Top Companies 2019: Where Australia wants to work now

The 2019 LinkedIn Top Companies list reveals the 25 companies where Australians want to work — and stick around once they’re in — now.

Every year, our editors and data scientists parse billions of actions taken by LinkedIn members around the world to uncover the companies that are attracting the most attention from jobseekers and then hanging on to that talent. The data-driven approach looks at what members are doing — not just saying — in their search for fulfilling careers. The result of that data is Top Companies, our 4th annual ranking of the most sought-after companies today.

As always, we analyse Australia members’ anonymised actions across four main pillars: interest in the company, engagement with the company’s employees, job demand and employee retention. (We exclude LinkedIn and LinkedIn’s parent company, Microsoft, from all LinkedIn Lists. You can dig into the details of our methodology at the bottom of the article.)

You can also check out the Top Companies in the US, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico and the UK. See who made the cut and join the conversation using #LinkedInTopCompanies.

Here are this year’s 25 Top Companies in Australia.

Company insights, such as skills and top locations, are sourced from LinkedIn Talent Insights and reflect only employees on LinkedIn. We use headcounts provided by the company whenever possible. More details below.

Global headcount: 40,000 | Top Australia locations: Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide | Fastest-growing skills: Oracle Database, Software Development, Microsoft SQL Server | Job functions with the most new hires: Finance, Research, Program and Project Management | What may surprise you: Westpac offers 20 days of support leave per year for employees impacted by domestic and family violence.

Read more: Westpac tops employee engagement | See jobs at Westpac | See people you may know at Westpac

Global headcount: 33,000 (Full-time equivalent) | Top Australia locations: Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane | Fastest-growing skills: JavaScript, XML, Java | Job functions with the most new hires: Finance, Business Development, Research | What may surprise you: More than a quarter of volunteers at last year’s Special Olympics were NAB employees. The group provides two days of paid leave a year to volunteer in the community.

Read more: NAB jobs in high demand | See jobs at National Australia Bank | See people you may know at National Australia Bank

Global headcount: 39,924 | Top Australia locations: Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane | Fastest-growing skills: Java, SQL, Analytics | Job functions with the most new hires: Finance, Engineering, Information Technology | What may surprise you: ANZ uses its office space to put employee cultures and events at the heart of the business. Visit ANZ’s Melbourne head office during the Australian Open and you may find a tennis match taking place in the foyer, at other times Diwali celebrations or a smoke ceremony during reconciliation week.

Read more: ANZ holds onto staff for longer | See jobs at ANZ | See people you may know at ANZ

Global Headcount: 48,000 | Top Australia locations: Sydney, Melbourne, Perth | Fastest-growing skills: Unix, Java, Oracle Database | Job functions with the most new hires: Finance, Support, Business Development | What may surprise you: Commonwealth Bank’s board has a 50/50 gender representation and 44.5% of management roles are held by women.

Read more: Commonwealth Bank attracts interest as a company | See jobs at Commonwealth Bank | See people you may know at Commonwealth Bank

Headcount in Australia: 8,000 | Top Australia locations: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane | Fastest-growing skills: Data Analysis, Manufacturing, AutoCAD | Job functions with the most new hires: Engineering, Operations, Program and Product Management | What may surprise you: Lendlease is giving its construction workers their weekends back and challenging industry norms. Its Australian Building business is now setting limits around total hours of work and weekend work.

Read more: Why a construction boom is building attractive property firms | See jobs at Lendlease | See people you may know at Lendlease

Headcount in Australia: 8,279 | Top Australia locations: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane | Fastest-growing skills: Java, Cloud Computing, Requirements Gathering | Job functions with the most new hires: Consulting, Accounting, Finance | What may surprise you: Forget the suit and tie, PwC’s dress code allows people to wear what makes them feel comfortable and dress for their day.

See jobs at PwC Australia | See people you may know at PwC Australia

Headcount in Australia: 17,500 | Top Australia locations: Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne | Fastest-growing skills: Remuneration, Troubleshooting, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) | Job functions with the most new hires: Operations, Engineering, Information Technology | What may surprise you: CIMIC Group — which includes brands such as CPB Contractors, Thiess and Pacific Partnerships — made extraordinary payments to some women after a review found a pay disparity based on gender, to ensure it was doing everything it could to close the gender pay gap.

See jobs at CIMIC | See people you may know at CIMIC

Headcount in Australia: 9,000 | Top Australia locations: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane | Fastest-growing skills: Python (Programming Language), HTML, JavaScript | Job functions with the most new hires: Business Development, Finance, Consulting | What may surprise you: There’s no getting out on the wrong side of bed at Deloitte, after the consulting firm challenged staff to get a better night’s sleep. Employees were equipped with tools to hit their sleep targets, improve their habits, productivity and overall wellbeing in a month-long initiative.

See jobs at Deloitte Australia | See people you may know at Deloitte Australia

Headcount in Australia: 1,345 | Top Australia locations: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane | Fastest-growing skills: Cold Calling, Market Research, Digital Media | Job functions with the most new hires: Sales, Engineering, Business Development | What may surprise you: Not all roles at Salesforce require a degree but position requirements vary based on department. Salesforce focuses on providing an inclusive screening and interview process that allows the company to assess the people it hires based on skill set and potential.

See jobs at Salesforce | See people you may know at Salesforce

Headcount in Australia: 1,500+ | Top Australia locations: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane | Fastest-growing skills: Analytics, Business Process, Business Intelligence (BI) | Job functions with the most new hires: Information Technology, Engineering, Sales | What may surprise you: There’s no one career ladder at Amazon. Last year, more than 10,000 employees changed job families within Amazon, as the company encourages movement between its global businesses.

See more: Why Amazon’s land grab is keeping Australians on home soil | See jobs at Amazon | See people you may know at Amazon

Headcount in Australia: 187,850 | Top Australia locations: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane | Fastest-growing skills: Supermarkets, Agile Methodologies, Analytics | Job functions with the most new hires: Sales, Support, Operations | What may surprise you: Woolworths has implemented a program in partnership with Community Corporate to provide employment opportunities for displaced refugees from Syria and the Middle East in an effort to reflect the culturally diverse communities it serves.

See more: How Woolworths is using its brand to bag talent | See jobs at Woolworths | See people you may know at Woolworths

Headcount in Australia: 7,000 | Top Australia locations: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane | Fastest-growing skills: Data Analytics, SQL, Legal Research | Job functions with the most new hires: Consulting, Accounting, Business Development | What may surprise you: KPMG has an Innovation Lab that works with clients to develop ideas and create prototypes for emerging technologies such as 3D printers, wearables, VR and AR, drones and robotics.

See jobs at KPMG Australia | See people you may know at KPMG Australia

Headcount in Australia: 8,000 | Top Australia locations: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane | Fastest-growing skills: Legal Research, Software Development, Administrative Assistance | Job functions with the most new hires: Consulting, Accounting, Finance | What may surprise you: EY is ripping up the rulebook on workplace timelines. Employees can take between six and 12 weeks of 'life leave', have school holidays off or work part-time temporarily if they need to, as the accounting firm looks to retain its growing millennial workforce — set to make up 80% of its global team by next year.

See jobs at EY | See people you may know at EY

Headcount in Australia: 2,500 | Top Australia locations: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane | Fastest-growing skills: Customer Satisfaction, AutoCAD, Accounts Receivable (AR) | Job functions with the most new hires: Operations, Real Estate, Finance | What may surprise you: All new hires complete a quiz before they start so that managers can tailor a personalised welcome pack.

Read more: How greater brand awareness is luring workers to property companies | See jobs at CBRE | See people you may know at CBRE

Headcount in Australia: 105,000 | Top Australia locations: Melbourne, Sydney, Perth | Fastest-growing skills: Analytics, Business Intelligence (BI), Requirements Analysis | Job functions with the most new hires: Sales, Operations, Support | What may surprise you: Wesfarmers is one of Australia’s largest private sector employers. Its vast and diverse workforce services approximately 1,065 retail outlets — including Kmart, which turns 50 this month.

See more: How Wesfarmers refuses to bargain on growth | See jobs at Wesfarmers | See people you may know at Wesfarmers

Headcount in Australia: 16,500 | Top Australia locations: Perth, Brisbane, Western Australia | Fastest-growing skills: Construction Management, Gas, AutoCAD | Job functions with the most new hires: Operations, Engineering, Information Technology | What may surprise you: BHP is proud of how far it has come on its flexible working journey — 45% of employees now have a formal or informal flexible working agreement.

See jobs at BHP | See people you may know at BHP

Headcount in Australia: 1,500 | Top Australia locations: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane | Fastest-growing skills: Building Maintenance, Vendor Management, Online Marketing | Job functions with the most new hires: Real Estate, Business Development, Administrative | What may surprise you: Last year, Colliers teamed up with Techstars — which connects tech entrepreneurs to experts, mentors and investors — to create a three-month property technology accelerator.

Read more: Why the banking Royal Commission is creating extra work for Colliers | See jobs at Colliers International | See people you may know at Colliers International

Headcount in Australia: 3,000+ | Top Australia locations: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane | Fastest-growing skills: Data Entry, AutoCAD, Adobe Photoshop | Job functions with the most new hires: Operations, Real Estate, Program and Product Management | What may surprise you: JLL is planning for the future of the real estate industry. Launched in 2018, the JLL Spark Global Venture Fund will invest up to US$100 million in companies using technology to improve everything from real estate development and management, to leasing and investing.

Read more: Why Australians are moving into the property sector | See jobs at JLL | See people you may know at JLL

Global headcount: 30,000 | Top Australia locations: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane | Fastest-growing skills: JavaScript, Java, SQL | Job functions with the most new hires: Operations, Engineering, Support | What may surprise you: Qantas recently announced it would become the first airline group in the world to cut waste by 75%, an initiative driven by employees in the cabin and on the ground.

Read more: How Qantas is dealing with the worldwide pilot shortage | See jobs at Qantas | See people you may know at Qantas

Headcount in Australia: 3,244 | Top Australia locations: Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane | Fastest-growing skills: Adobe Photoshop, Matlab, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) | Job functions with the most new hires: Engineering, Operations, Program and Project Management | What may surprise you: Aurecon’s new Brisbane office is Australia’s tallest and largest engineered-timber office building, and the company’s sustainability team set a target of achieving a WELL Certified Interiors rating for Aurecon’s fit-out. This is the leading tool for advancing health and wellbeing in buildings globally and uses an evidence-based system that assesses seven categories — air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind.

Read more: What’s fueling the growth in employment at an engineering company | See jobs at Aurecon | See people you may know at Aurecon

Headcount in Australia: 2,000 | Top Australia locations: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane | Fastest-growing skills: Social Media Marketing, Business Process, Data Entry | Job functions with the most new hires: Legal, Support, Administrative | What may surprise you: MinterEllison has a strong extra-curricular program for staff, including a company band, sporting teams and a team of lawyers-turned-comedians for the annual Law Revue.

Read more: How graduates get an offer at MinterEllison | See jobs at MinterEllison | See people you may know at MinterEllison

Headcount in Australia: 3,760 | Top Australia locations: Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide | Fastest-growing skills: IT Service Management, Java, Manufacturing | Job functions with the most new hires: Engineering, Information Technology, Operations | What may surprise you: AGL was awarded Gold Employer Status for LGBTI+ inclusion at the Australian Workplace Equality Index Awards (AWEI) for the second year running in 2018, underpinning the energy supplier’s commitment to providing a supportive and inclusive environment for all employees.

See jobs at AGL Energy | See people you may know at AGL Energy

Headcount in Australia: 1,739 | Top Australia locations: Sydney, Melbourne, Perth | Fastest-growing skills: Human Rights, Criminal Law, Administrative Assistance | Job functions with the most new hires: Legal, Support, Research | What may surprise you: Last year, a lawyer approached the firm’s management with an idea to use technology to facilitate smart legal contracts. Herbert Smith Freehills teamed up with CSIRO’s Data61, IBM and King & Wood Mallesons to attempt Australia’s first cross-industry, large-scale, publicly available blockchain solution.

Read more: Why a Herbert Smith Freehills veteran advises graduates to "give law a go" | See jobs at Herbert Smith Freehills | See people you may know at Herbert Smith Freehills

Headcount in Australia: 8,390 | Top Australia locations: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane | Fastest-growing skills: Financial Analysis, User Acceptance Testing, Business Requirements | Job functions with the most new hires: Finance, Information Technology, Engineering | What may surprise you: IAG is the only Australian insurer with a crash testing lab, dedicated to testing cars for safety, security and repair costs.

See jobs at IAG | See people you may know at IAG

Headcount in Australia: 1,442 | Top Australia locations: Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane | Fastest-growing skills: Entrepreneurship, Legal Issues | Job functions with the most new hires: Legal, Support, Administrative | What may surprise you: If you’re a lawyer with an eye for art, then Allens may be the place for you. What started as a way to enliven the new office in the late 1970s is now an ongoing commitment to support young, unknown Australian artists with a collection of over a thousand works.

Read more: What's influencing growth in law firms, from technology to regulation | See jobs at Allens | See people you may know at Allens

Share the full list and your thoughts on this year's Top Companies list using #LinkedInTopCompanies.

Methodology

LinkedIn ranks companies based on four pillars: interest in the company, engagement with employees, job demand and employee retention. Interest in the company is measured by unique, non-employee new follows of the company’s LinkedIn page. Employee engagement looks at how many non-employees are viewing unique employees at the company. Job demand counts the rate at which people are viewing and applying to jobs at the company, including both paid and unpaid job postings on LinkedIn. Employee retention measures how many employees are still at the company at least one year after their date of hire, based on LinkedIn member profiles. To be eligible, companies must have at least 500 employees as of Feb. 1 and must have flat or positive employee growth over the 12 months (based on LinkedIn Talent Insights data). Only parent companies rank on the list; majority-owned subsidiaries and associated data are wrapped into its total score. All data is normalized based on company size. The methodology and insights time frame is Feb. 1, 2018 through Jan. 31, 2019. All data is aggregated and anonymised to protect members’ private information.

We exclude all staffing and recruiting firms, nonprofits, educational institutions, government agencies and government-owned entities. We also exclude LinkedIn and LinkedIn’s parent company, Microsoft, from any LinkedIn Lists.

About company insights

*Company insights were sourced from LinkedIn Talent Insights and include the parent company and majority-owned subsidiaries. Data reflects aggregated public member data from active LinkedIn profiles in the relevant country and includes full-time employee profiles associated with the parent company and majority-owned subsidiaries on LinkedIn. We exclude members who identify as part-time or contractors. Headcounts are provided by the companies directly or public filings, unless otherwise noted with an asterisk. Those headcounts are based on LinkedIn data. The insights reflect a 12-month time period looking back from February 2019.

Corrections: Family Law was incorrectly stated as one of Allens' fastest-growing skills. Allens does not have a family law practice. While some Salesforce roles do not require a degree, position requirements vary based on department and is not company-wide as previously suggested.

Reported by: Natalie MacDonald, Capucine Yeomans, Ben Collins, Carmel Melouney