SA banks dominate Forbes' ranking of world's best employers
Six financial services groups feature among the 12 South African companies recognised by Forbes, with Nedbank leading the local pack at 26th globally.
South Africa's banking and financial services sector has been highlighted as the country's top performer in Forbes' 2026 ranking of the world's best employers. Out of the 12 local companies on the list, four South African banking groups—Nedbank, Standard Bank, Absa, and FirstRand—occupy the top four positions globally. The survey, conducted by Forbes in collaboration with market research firm Statista, gathered feedback from over 300,000 employees across more than 50 countries, focusing on employees' perceptions rather than financial performance.
This international ranking reflects well on South Africa's banking sector, as it marks a reversal in the global standings of the two leading South African banks, with Nedbank rising to 26th place and Standard Bank dropping to 54th. MTN, a telecommunications company, stands out as the highest-ranked South African employer outside finance, securing the 133rd spot globally, showcasing significant growth over the past few years.
Despite the focus on multinational employers with more than 1,000 employees, the results underscore South Africa's strong position in the global employment landscape, with nine out of the top ten African employers being based in the country.
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