Forbes World’s Best Employers 2026: Top 7 companies ranked by employees

Forbes’ World’s Best Employers 2026 list ranks 900 companies from around the world based on employee feedback. The ranking features companies from sectors including technology, airlines, retail and semiconductors. Here are the top seven employers on the list, along with their industries, headquarters countries, CEOs and founding years.

Microsoft has taken the No. 1 position on Forbes’ World’s Best Employers 2026 list. The company operates in the IT Software & Services industry and is based in the United States. Microsoft was founded in 1975 and is led by CEO Satya Nadella. Its top position puts it ahead of all other companies featured in the global ranking.

Delta Air Lines ranks second on the Forbes list of the world’s best employers. The company belongs to the Transportation and Logistics industry and is based in the United States. Founded in 1925, Delta Air Lines is led by CEO Edward Herman Bastian. It is the only airline among the top two companies in the ranking.

Shopify has secured the third position in Forbes’ World’s Best Employers 2026 ranking. The company is part of the IT Software & Services industry and is based in Canada. Shopify was founded in 2006 and is led by CEO Tobias Albin Lütke. Its third-place position makes it the highest-ranked Canadian company among the top seven.

Costco Wholesale ranks fourth among the world’s best employers on the Forbes list. The company operates in the Retail and Wholesale industry and is based in the United States. Founded in 1983, Costco Wholesale is led by CEO Roland M. Vachris. It is the highest-ranked retail and wholesale company among the top seven.

NVIDIA is ranked fifth on Forbes’ World’s Best Employers 2026 list. The US company operates in the Semiconductors, Electronics and Electrical Engineering industry. NVIDIA was founded in 1993 and is led by CEO Jensen Huang. Its fifth-place ranking puts it among the top technology and engineering employers globally.

Adobe holds the sixth position in Forbes’ global employer ranking. The company operates in the IT Software & Services industry and is based in the United States. Adobe was founded in 1982 and is led by CEO Shantanu Narayen. It is the third company from the IT Software & Services sector to feature in the top seven.

Apple ranks seventh on Forbes’ World’s Best Employers 2026 list. The company is part of the Semiconductors, Electronics and Electrical Engineering industry and is based in the United States. Founded in 1976, Apple is led by CEO Tim Cook. Its seventh-place ranking completes the top seven companies on the list.