These Are The Best Employers In Illinois, Forbes Says In New Ranking

ILLINOIS — Forty-five companies headquartered in Illinois are among America’s Best Employers By State, ranked by Forbes.

“These aren’t the best large or midsize employers nationally, but a deeper look at which companies are closer-to-home options for every American worker,” Forbes said with the release of its fifth annual ranking Tuesday.

The top five Illinois companies on the list are:

1. Vernon Hills-based CDW, an IT and software company founded in 1984 and now employing 12,250 people; CEO Christine A. Leahy.

2. Chicago-based University of Chicago Medicine, healthcare, founded in 1927 and now employing 9,406 people; CEO Thomas Jackiewicz.

3. Peoria-based OSF HealthCare, healthcare, founded in 1877 and now employing 23,000 people; CEO Robert C. Sehring.

4. Northbrook-based UL, business services and supplies, founded in 1894 and now employing 14,000 people; CEO Jennifer Scanlon.

5. Bloomington-based State Farm, insurance, founded in 1922 and now employing 58,000 people; CEO Michael L. Tipsord.

A full list of the 1,39 organizations that made the list is found on Forbes. To be considered, they had to have at least 500 employees nationwide. Forbes and its data partner Statista surveyed workers in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

The survey questions reflect a recent Pew Research Center survey that showed only about half of workers nationwide are extremely or very satisfied with their jobs. Work satisfaction and compensation are closely tied, and workers with higher incomes tended to like their jobs more than lower-income workers, the survey found.

“We found an interesting disconnect in terms of how workers are experiencing their jobs,” Kim Parker, Pew’s director of social trends research, told Forbes. “Most say they are highly satisfied with the human side of work — their relationships with their coworkers and supervisor. They are much less satisfied with their compensation and the opportunities they’re given for promotion or advancement.”

The anonymous survey asked workers if they would recommend their employer to friends and family, and to evaluate their employer on working conditions, diversity, compensation packages, the potential for development and company image. They were also asked about other employers in their states and were given the opportunity to rate employers anywhere within their respective industries.

Of the 1,392 organizations on the list, 1,123 of them were ranked in only one state. The others were ranked in more than one state.