Survey Reveals: The Best Companies for Career Development in the U.S. [2025]

When we carried out our survey of 3,002 workers, based purely on career development opportunities, what stood out was how upskilling has become less of an optional extra and more of a career essential.

People who continue learning not only keep themselves employable but also stay open to opportunities that might have passed them by otherwise.

Below are some observations we made about people’s top choices, based on career development.

As well as a state-by-state breakdown, we also broke down the survey results to find out the top 10 most sought-after employers nationally.

What we found is a clear signal—the most popular employers when it comes to upskilling are heavyweights, and job seekers see them as the best paths towards career progression.

• Devon Energy (Oklahoma City, OK) – The energy industry is still a powerful career anchor.
• Mercedes-Benz U.S. International (Vance, AL) – The draw here is a training culture that helps people move from the factory floor to management.
• Merck & Co. (Rahway, NJ) – Pharma remains a top choice, and Merck’s long tradition of research and development makes it a clear favorite for those seeking stable, science-driven careers.
• Coca-Cola (Atlanta, GA) –Workers don’t just see Coke as marketing—it’s operations, logistics, and global career mobility.
• Pfizer (New York, NY) – From labs to leadership tracks, Pfizer’s training and research opportunities are legendary
• Amazon (Seattle, WA) –Amazon is viewed as a training ground for scale, speed, and adaptability, with opportunities across almost every discipline.
• Torch Technologies (Huntsville, AL) – A bit of an outlier. Torch’s employee-ownership model and reputation for career development in defense and tech are particularly sought-after.
• GlobalFoundries (Essex Junction, VT) – Semiconductors may not grab headlines daily, but inside the industry, GlobalFoundries is seen as a skill incubator with long-term stability.
• Hershey Company (Hershey, PA) – A legacy employer where brand loyalty overlaps with career loyalty.
• Procter & Gamble (Cincinnati, OH) – Known for training future leaders across marketing, supply chain, and product development.

General Motors and Ford emerged as top choices for Michiganders, making it clear how the Motor City ethos still runs deep in the state, particularly among those wanting to build their careers at just one company.

In other states, Toyota was the top pick in Kentucky, Tennesseans chose Nissan, and the iconic Harley-Davidson topped Wisconsin’s poll.

It is clear that manufacturing brands tied to local history still carry serious pull when workers think about long-term growth.

States with major medical systems—Maryland (Johns Hopkins), Minnesota (Mayo Clinic), and Ohio (Cleveland Clinic)—all saw healthcare employers rise to the top. Even smaller states showed the trend.

Upskilling in medicine, whether through clinical training or research pathways, is clearly a loyalty magnet.

Yes, California leaned heavily on the usual giants—Google, Disney, Kaiser—but look west and north: Intel topped Arizona and Oregon, IBM made the list in New York, and Cisco was a standout in North Carolina.

States without a tech legacy are seeing their biggest employers double as skill incubators, making “Silicon Valley” more of a mindset than a ZIP code.

In Alaska, Alaska Airlines placed second only to the Northern Alaska Tour Company, while United Airlines was the top choice in Illinois, and Hawaiian Airlines unsurprisingly dominated Hawaii.

Aviation is an industry where upskilling is baked in—from pilot training to engineering certifications—and workers recognize that security.

From Capital One in Virginia to Prudential and Johnson & Johnson in New Jersey, to Fidelity in New Hampshire, the financial sector consistently shows up.

It’s not necessarily about glamor; it’s about steady advancement structures, mentoring programs, and defined career ladders that attract ambitious workers.

Energy giants pulled weight across the map—ExxonMobil in Texas, Entergy in Louisiana, Devon Energy in Oklahoma.
There is a clear perception that technical training and career security run deep in an industry that is always evolving with technology.

The survey didn’t just capture dream employers; it also asked how secure workers feel about their own career paths in the age of AI and automation. The results were striking:
Workers are hungry for structure: while only 42% feel confident their employer is preparing them for changes like AI, nearly three-quarters said they’d be far more likely to stay if a clear career framework were in place.

The biggest loyalty boost came from opportunities to move into new roles, showing that training alone isn’t enough—people want to see exactly where their skills can take them.

What is notable from our survey is that it isn’t just the household names that are the most sought-after among workers—it’s the way local identity, industry tradition, and future-ready training all overlap.

Upskilling is the common thread. Whether it’s climbing the ranks at Intel, picking up certifications at Mayo, or learning leadership skills at Capital One, workers clearly value companies that don’t just hand out paychecks but teach them how to build careers.

As communities begin to recognize the indispensable nature of these roles, it becomes clear that their contributions deserve far more support, appreciation, and investment.

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Careerminds

Careerminds is a leading provider of outplacement and career coaching services, helping individuals navigate career transitions with personalized solutions, expert guidance, and support for lasting professional success.