Brock University has been recognized by Forbes as one of the top employers in the country.

The University ranked third overall in the annual list of Canada’s Best Employers compiled by Forbes and market research firm Statista.

The rankings, which were released Tuesday, Jan. 23 and include 300 organizations from across the country, are based on survey results from more than 40,000 people working for Canadian companies and institutions with at least 500 employees. Brock followed only The Hershey Company, which ranked first, and Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, which ranked second.

“Being recognized by an organization like Forbes helps to show the rest of the country what we already know: that Brock is a wonderful place to work and build a career,” says Lesley Rigg, Brock President and Vice-Chancellor. “This ranking really speaks to the community of dedicated, talented people who work here and make this institution a leader in Canadian post-secondary education and student experience.”

Survey participants were asked to evaluate their employer based on criteria such as opportunities for promotion, gender pay equity and how supervisors manage their direct reports. They were also asked if they would recommend their employer to others, and were given the opportunity to rate other employers in their respective industries.

Responses given by current employees were weighted more heavily than those given by people who know the company through friends, family or industry connections.

Data from the past three years was included in the survey analysis, with recent data also given a heavier weight.

All responses were tallied to provide each organization with a score, with the 300 highest-scoring entities making the final list.

Brock was also named one of Hamilton-Niagara’s Top Employers for the sixth time in November, recognizing the University for its flexible work options, hybrid pension plan, support for employee health and wellness, and professional development opportunities.