LinkedIn names Amazon a top company for career development

An annual report from LinkedIn highlights the 50 best large workplaces to grow a career in the United States — and only one retailer made the list this year. 

Amazon ranked second on LinkedIn’s Top Companies 2024 list, which cited the online giant's skills training and opportunities for growth as key differentiators. JPMorgan Chase & Co. took the No.1 spot. Also in the top five: WellsFargo (No.3), followed by Deloitte and PwC.

“This year’s honorees are proving that investment in the employee experience is vital in today’s workplaces,” LinkedIn stated. “Whether it’s launching upskilling initiatives or offering flexible working arrangements, these are the companies leading the way in not only attracting workers, but retaining them in our ever-changing world of work.”

To be eligible, companies must have had 5,000 or more global employees with at least 500 in the country as of Dec. 31, 2023. Also, attrition can be no higher than 10% over the methodology time period (Jan. 1, 2023 through Dec. 31, 2023), based on LinkedIn data. 

Similarly, companies that have had layoffs of 10% or more of their workforce based on corporate announcements or public, reliable sources between Jan. 1, 2023 and the list launch, are not eligible. See end of article for more on the methodology.

In a statement, Amazon, which had made the list for seven consecutive years, noted four ways the company supported its employees in the past year.

•"We launched new opportunities to provide 300,000 employees with access to education and skills training programs through 2025;"

•"We made our largest ever annual investment in U.S. hourly wages and hired 250,000 employees for the holiday season;"

•"We committed to hiring 5,000 refugees in Europe over the next three years, expanding on its previous pledge to hire at least 5,000 refugees in the U.S. by the end of  2024;" and

•"We expanded our benefits to help employees achieve personal and professional success."

Methodology

The methodology uses LinkedIn data to rank companies based on eight pillars that have been shown to lead to career progression: ability to advance; skills growth; company stability; external opportunity; company affinity; gender diversity; educational background and employee presence in the country. For more, click here.