U.S. News & World Report, a leading source for rankings and consumer guidance, has unveiled its 2026–2027 U.S. News Best Companies to Work For ratings. This year's edition marks the first time the rankings include both publicly traded and privately held organizations in a single release, spanning 14 major industries.

The latest rankings assess nearly 3,900 public and private companies, giving job seekers and employees valuable insights into workplaces that align with their priorities. Organizations are evaluated across key factors such as compensation and benefits, work-life balance and flexibility, job security, workplace well-being, employee belonging and recognition, and opportunities for career growth and professional development.

According to Carly Chase, Vice President of Careers at U.S. News, the meaning of a "best workplace" continues to evolve as employee expectations change. She noted that the rankings serve as a trusted resource for employers looking to benchmark workplace practices and for job seekers—from recent graduates entering the AI-driven workforce to experienced professionals pursuing new opportunities—who want to identify organizations that effectively support their employees.

In addition to the overall rankings, the report highlights companies recognized for supporting family caregivers and those offering outstanding internship experiences. To further assist individuals navigating today's competitive employment landscape, U.S. News has introduced the Durable Skills Assessment, a tool designed to help users identify their core workplace strengths and transferable skills. The assessment will remain available through July 31, 2026.

Chase also emphasized that rapid advancements in artificial intelligence, coupled with evolving workplace policies such as parental leave, have created significant uncertainty for many workers and new graduates. She said the latest ratings are intended to help those entering the workforce, changing careers, or balancing caregiving responsibilities identify employers that offer supportive and stable work environments.

The rankings are based on a methodology developed with input from an expert advisory panel. U.S. News evaluates publicly available employee sentiment alongside additional data sources and editorial analysis to determine how effectively companies support their workforce. The 2026–2027 edition recognizes the top 25% of evaluated organizations across sectors including finance and insurance, manufacturing, agriculture, consumer products, and several other industries.

For eligibility, privately held companies were required to employ at least 1,000 people and generate annual revenue exceeding $500 million, based on ZoomInfo data. Public companies were selected from the 5,000 largest by market capitalization. Every company included in the evaluation also needed a minimum of 75 Glassdoor employee reviews submitted between 2021 and 2025.

The rankings draw on multiple data sources, including employee feedback and regulatory enforcement records from QUODD, ZoomInfo, Revelio Labs, and Good Jobs First. These datasets were used to calculate the six core evaluation metrics that determine each company's overall rating, with additional details available in the official U.S. News methodology.

SCS Global Services (SCS) is celebrating its 40th anniversary as a trailblazer in third-party certification and sustainability standards. Recently, the company was recognized as one of the fastest-growing private enterprises in the San Francisco Bay Area during the San Francisco Business Times' annual Fast 100 event.
 
"Big ideas can emerge from the smallest beginnings," stated Linda Brown, Senior Vice President and Co-Founder of SCS, who accepted the award for the organization. "When we founded SCS in 1984, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues were not prominent in business discussions. As priorities shifted, so did our growth. Today, we provide professional services on six continents, aiding companies, NGOs, and governmental bodies in tackling complex climate, environmental, and social challenges through over 130 nationally and internationally recognized programs."
 
The company’s late founder and CEO, Dr. Stanley Rhodes, who passed away last year, was a staunch advocate for ethical environmental and social practices. He dedicated the organization to confronting significant challenges, including minimizing pesticide residues and pathogens in food, improving natural resource management, enhancing sustainable supply chains, reducing manufacturing pollution, overseeing the full life-cycle of industrial systems, and mitigating climate impacts.
 
“Our mission has always been to address issues and assist stakeholders in finding ways to improve both societal outcomes and financial performance,” noted Matthew Rudolf, the current CEO.
 
He attributed recent growth, even during the COVID-19 pandemic, to a proactive attitude coupled with innovative initiatives aimed at elevating performance standards rather than merely maintaining the status quo.
 
"Recent innovations include a new standard and certification program for water stewardship and resilience, targeted advisory services to assist companies with compliance to new EU regulations, advancements in sustainable agriculture, and a comprehensive sustainability rating system for diamond jewelry," Rudolf added. “Last month, we introduced the Global Heat Reduction (GHR) Initiative, which aims to support corporations, government agencies, and other stakeholders in identifying effective strategies to mitigate trapped heat in the atmosphere, addressing the climate crisis.”
 
A GHR-hosted panel on the climate impacts of super pollutants, such as methane and black carbon, will take place on October 29 during this year’s Verge 2024 climate tech conference in San Jose, organized by the Trellis Group (formerly GreenBiz). The panel will feature Kiff Gallagher, GHR Executive Director, along with:
 

 
The San Francisco Business Times recognized privately held companies based in the San Francisco Bay Area with these awards.
 
"Our region is known for its innovation and growth-supporting ecosystem," remarked Pete Casillas, Publisher of the San Francisco Business Times. “SCS Global Services and all the companies recognized deserve special acknowledgment for their contributions to our regional economy.”