What you probably already know: NASA, Johnson & Johnson, Kansas State University, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Mutual of Omaha come from very different worlds, but all have one thing in common: Forbes has recognized them as among America’s Best Employers for Women 2026. The ninth-annual rankings, in partnership with research firm Statista, honor 700 “standout employers making progress on gender pay equity and providing women with myriad opportunities to advance in their careers and take on leadership roles.” Forbes notes that women now account for slightly more than half of America’s workforce, with women’s employment increasing and men’s spiraling downward.
Why it matters: San Francisco-based utility company Pacific Gas and Electric finished No. 1, followed by Johnson & Johnson, Google, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and Navy Federal Credit Union. In a section titled “Meet America’s Best Employers,” Forbes calls out several top companies, including Navy Federal Credit Union (“a place where women have been empowered to grow their careers”); Mutual of Omaha (committed to a hybrid workplace); and insurance company Progressive (“women find themselves in a supportive culture that encourages open communication”). Forbes surveyed more than 146,000 women working for companies that employ at least 1,000 in the United States, asking if they’d recommend their current or previous employers. Companies were rated on items including pay equity, career development, parental leave and their handling of incidents related to sexual misconduct or discrimination.
What it means: Citing data from the Center for American Progress, Forbes notes that working mothers with school-aged children represent the largest increase in the labor force post-pandemic. That report, released in April, says women’s labor force participation is “sustaining the economy,” adding that women make up the majority of the nonfarm employed for just the third time since 1990. “For women, and particularly for working parents, caregivers, military spouses and employees that are balancing multiple responsibilities, (Navy Federal Credit Union) offers a “combination of well-being, flexibility, financial security and career development,” says Britton Block, the organization’s vice president of global talent, acquisition strategy and recruiting.
What happens next: Colleen Stuart, associate professor and co-director of the Gender & Work Initiative at the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School, notes that a flexible work culture is among the policies most important to caregivers, who are overwhelmingly women. “Caregivers directly benefit because it allows them to stay employed full-time as opposed to working part-time, and it’s associated with higher wages for women,” says Stuart, adding that all workers benefit from flexibility, regardless of gender. “And this isn’t just important when you have small children. It’s also important when you’re caring for elders or you’re just trying to manage a household.”
