These Are The Best Employers For Gen Z College Grads Who Say They Want Jobs With Purpose

• Related: Forbes Names 20 Colleges The ‘New Ivies,’ Notes Employers Prefer Them

Newly minted college graduates aren’t shy about saying what they want in a job, and employers will do well to listen to them, according to Forbes, which just released a ranking of companies that best meet the job expectations of Gen Z workers.

In its eighth annual “America’s Best Employers for New Grads,” Forbes and its research partner Statista surveyed more than 100,000 young professionals who have been working less than 10 years at companies that have at least 1,000 employees.

They were asked if they would recommend their employer to others, and to rate the company on such things as wages, benefits, advancement opportunities, working conditions, flexibility, company image and inclusion. Survey respondents were also asked if they’d recommend previous employers, as well as those they are aware of through their respective industries or because family or friends work there. Results from the past three surveys were considered in the scoring system, but the heaviest weight was put on the most recent feedback.

Forbes said what new graduates want from a job should be an important consideration for employers because Gen Z workers are projected to make up 30 percent of the U.S. workforce by 2030.

Younger workers aren’t afraid to make clear what they want in a job, Estrella Serrato, a college and postgraduate coach and host of “Cafecito con Estrellita,” a podcast focused on first-generation graduates, told Forbes.

“Companies are seeing a more empowered generation of graduates,” Serrato said. “New grads are showing up with questions about company values, social impact, and how mental health is supported in the workplace.”

Career goals are also important, and Gen Z workers tend to seek jobs that are “more than just a paycheck” according to Serrato, who said they are interested in finding “purpose-driven work” and “growth opportunities they can actually see and experience.”

Deloitte’s 2025 Gen Z and Millennial Survey of 23,482 Gen Zs and Millennials in 44 countries found an overwhelming majority of those workers — 89 percent and 92 percent, respectively — want jobs with purpose. About 45 percent of workers in both age groups had left unfulfilling jobs.

As the Forbes-Statista survey also showed, Deloitte’s revealed that career growth, mentoring and guidance are crucial to job satisfaction.

Overall, 500 companies made Forbes’ final list. The top 25 and their headquarters locations are:

1. Microsoft (software and services), Redmond, Washington
2. Google (software and services), Mountain View, California
3. New York Power Authority, (utilities), White Plains, New York
4. NVIDIA (semiconductors, electronics, electrical engineering), Santa Cruz, California
5. Apple (semiconductors, electronics, electrical engineering), Cupertino, California
6. Boston Scientific (medical equipment and services), Marlborough, Massachusetts
7. Stanford University (education), Stanford, California
8. Delta Air Lines (transportation and linguistics), Atlanta, Georgia
9. Procter & Gamble (packaged goods), Cincinnati, Ohio
10. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (education), Cambridge, Massachusetts
11. Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation (construction, chemicals and raw materials), Barrow, Alaska
12. Velera (banking and financial services), St. Petersburg, Florida
13. Houston Methodist (health care and social services), Houston, Texas
14. In-N-Out Burger (restaurants), Irvine, California
15. IBM (IT software and services), Armonk, New York
16. Nationwide Children's Hospital (health care and social services), Columbus, Ohio
17. Toyota North America (automotive and suppliers), Plano, Texas
18. Novo Nordisk (drugs and biotechnology), Plainsboro, New Jersey
19. World Wide Technology (IT software and services), Maryland Heights, Missouri
20. HonorHealth (health care and social services), Scottsdale, Arizona
21. Mayo Clinic (health care and social services), Rochester, Minnesota
22. Memorial Hermann Health System (health care and social services), Houston, Texas
23. Trader Joe's (retail and wholesale), Monrovia, California
24. CAI (professional services), Allentown, Pennsylvania
25. Nike (clothing, shoes, sports equipment), Beaverton, Oregon

Related

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• Hardest U.S. College To Get Into Is Not An Exclusive Ivy League School
• This College Is The Hardest Of The Forbes ‘New Ivies’ To Get Into

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