In an era where entry-level jobs are vanishing and artificial intelligence reshapes hiring, a new workforce analytics project promises to cut through employer marketing to reveal which companies actually build careers. The initiative, dubbed Where You Work Matters, grades 1,750 of America's largest employers based on real career outcomes. The findings were discussed in a recent episode of the podcast You Should Know, hosted by William Tincup of WRKdefined, featuring Matt Sigelman, president of the Burning Glass Institute, and Rajiv Chandrasekaran, Managing Director of the Schultz Family Foundation.
The research draws on a database of 12 million career histories across 1,800 companies, measuring promotion velocity, retention, pay growth, and regrettable turnover. Sigelman explains the core question: 'If two people start in the same role at directly competing firms, how likely are they each to move up? How likely are they each to stay? How does their pay change over time?' This empirical approach, detailed in the Harvard Business Review article on the disappearance of entry-level jobs, aims to provide transparency in a labor market where traditional career ladders are eroding.
Tincup challenges conventional HR wisdom by emphasizing that regrettable turnover—when high-performing employees leave—is the metric that truly matters. Chandrasekaran and Sigelman concur, noting that transparency benefits workers by enabling them to make informed career decisions. The conversation also introduces the concept of 'mobility muscle,' highlighting companies like Procter & Gamble, Lockheed Martin, Salesforce, Apple, and Whole Foods that demonstrate varying strengths across different roles.
The findings defy expectations. Only 22 of the roughly 1,750 companies earned Platinum ratings across every category. Among hundreds of firms employing financial analysts, just 27 were rated as great across early career, growth, and stability stages, with only six in banking or financial services. Standouts included General Mills, Liberty Mutual, and Nike. At Whole Foods, food preparation workers fare surprisingly well because prepared foods drive margin, illustrating that career opportunities can vary significantly by role within the same company.
Chandrasekaran cites conversations with CHROs at top-rated firms who attribute their success to intentional manager conversations about career trajectory—a practice that separates leaders from laggards. The project's website, whereyouworkmatters.org, now includes an occupation finder tool for the class of 2026, surfacing roughly 6,000 highly rated entry-level openings.
This research arrives at a critical moment. With entry-level roles disappearing and AI transforming hiring, understanding which employers genuinely invest in career development is more important than ever. For HR leaders, the findings offer a benchmark against which to measure their own practices. For workers and job seekers, the data provides a powerful tool to identify employers that will support their long-term growth. As the labor market continues to evolve, transparency in career outcomes will likely become a key differentiator for employers seeking to attract and retain talent.
