Forbes and market research company Statista have named No. 1 among employers in Northern Ohio and No. 4 in the entire state of Ohio on the 2020 America’s Best-in-State Employers list that highlights America’s best employers. Kent State is also the top educational institution on the Ohio list. The top three Ohio employers on the list are Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati, Cincinnati Children’s and Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus.
Forbes and Statista selected America’s Best-in-State Employers based on an independent survey of more than 80,000 U.S. employees working for companies employing at least 500 people in their U.S. operations. The surveys were administered from October 2019 to May 2020 using a series of online panels and provide a representative sample of the U.S. workforce.
Kent State employs approximately 5,000 full- and part-time employees across its eight-campus footprint. The university’s diverse employees include academic advisors, architects, athletic coaches, clerical specialists, custodial workers, faculty members, groundskeepers, police officers, research technicians, residence hall directors, senior administrators and much more.
“I often say that Kent State is a wonderful place to live, work and study, and this recognition by Forbes confirms that Kent State is truly a great place to work,” said Kent State President Todd Diacon. “Our Golden Flashes family is welcoming, inclusive and supportive, and I am proud to be a part of this exceptional team of dedicated professionals.”
A 2018 study shows that Kent State is a powerful economic engine, directly contributing more than $1 billion annually to the Northeast Ohio region’s prosperity, and when coupled with the earnings of the Kent State alumni, the university’s annual economic impact on the region soars to nearly $3.4 billion and more than $3.8 billion statewide.
Jack Witt, Kent State’s vice president for human resources, said the university’s Division of Human Resources works very hard to provide an excellent work environment for its employees.
“We strive to attract, retain and develop a community of talented and diverse individuals,” Witt said. “We provide many opportunities for professional development and offer robust university-wide benefits and wellness programs that support the work and personal lives of our faculty and staff in their efforts to be productive members of this vibrant community. This achievement of being selected to the America’s Best-in-State Employers list is very satisfying, and I thank our faculty and staff for being great partners with the Division of Human Resources.”
When surveyed to determine this year’s Best-in-State Employers list, respondents were asked to rate their employers on a variety of criteria, including safety of work environment, competitiveness of compensation, opportunities for advancement and openness to telecommuting. Respondents were also asked how likely they would recommend their employer to others, and to nominate employers in industries outside their own. The final list ranks the 1,461 employers that received the greatest number of recommendations in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
For more information about America’s Best-in-State Employers and to view the 2020 list, visit .
For more information about Kent State, visit www.kent.edu.
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Media Contacts:
Eric Mansfield, emansfie@kent.edu, 330-672-2797
Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu, 330-672-8595