Nedbank named Africa’s top banking employer and ranks 26th globally

South African companies are holding their own on the global jobs stage, with Nedbank making the biggest leap in this year’s Forbes World’s Best Employers rankings, ***Cape {town} Etc ***reports.

The bank has jumped from 49th in 2025 to 26th globally in 2026, making it the highest-ranked South African company on the list and the Number 1 banking and financial services employer in Africa. That puts Nedbank ahead of several globally recognised names, including Samsung, Chanel and Marriott International.

According to BusinessTech, the Forbes ranking assessed more than 800 companies worldwide, drawing on feedback from more than 300 000 employees. The assessment considers factors including employee experience, career opportunities, remuneration and work-life balance.

For South African workers, the result offers an interesting counterpoint to the usual global rankings dominated by Silicon Valley giants and multinational brands.

Making moves in the top 10.

Nedbank gains ground in Africa’s Top 100 Banks 2026, standing out in a year of shifting positions among the continent’s biggest banking groups.

Who else is climbing and what’s reshaping the order at the top?

Explore the full ranking and analysis: https://t.co/O1bOsPAwY4

@Nedbank

— African Business (@AfricanBizMag) October 7, 2026

Nedbank’s rise is particularly notable because it did not simply retain its position from last year. The bank moved 23 places up the global rankings in a single year. It was also ranked among the top three banking employers worldwide, putting a South African financial institution alongside some of the biggest names in international business.

Andee Uren, Nedbank’s executive head of organisation effectiveness, reportedly said the recognition reflected the people behind the company.

‘Being recognised as Africa’s leading banking and financial services employer is a significant achievement for Nedbank and a testament to the exceptional people who bring our purpose and values to life every day.’

– Andee Uren, Executive Head of Organisation Effectiveness at Nedbank

She said the ranking also showed that African businesses could compete internationally when it came to workplace culture and employee experience. ‘Ranking among the top employers globally demonstrates that organisations from Africa can compete with the very best in the world.’

What is behind the ranking?

Nedbank says its workplace strategy centres on meaningful work, ongoing learning, inclusion and opportunities for employees to develop their careers. The bank also uses employee feedback to shape its workplace policies. Its Voice of Employee system includes pulse surveys, organisational health assessments, lifecycle surveys, focus groups and exit feedback.

Those responses are used to identify areas where leadership, working practices and the broader employee experience can be improved. The bank has also introduced initiatives such as its Talent Marketplace, leadership development programmes, wellbeing offerings and employee-led diversity and inclusion forums.

For employees, that means the ranking is about more than simply having a recognisable company name on a CV. Nedbank says it is trying to create opportunities for people to move between roles, develop new skills and have a greater say in the organisation.

Nedbank isn’t the only South African name on the list

The country’s showing extends well beyond one bank. Standard Bank Group placed 54th globally, followed by Absa at 98th, FirstRand at 104th, Investec at 197th and Sanlam at 470th. Other South African companies featured include MTN, Sasol, Mediclinic and South African Airways.

The presence of businesses from banking, telecommunications, energy, healthcare and aviation gives the local results a broader significance. It suggests that South African companies are gaining international recognition across several industries, rather than relying on a single standout employer.

Sanlam has also previously appeared in other international workplace rankings, including a Time list of global employers.

The global picture

At the very top of the Forbes list sits Microsoft, while other technology heavyweights including Apple, Alphabet and Nvidia also feature prominently. Shopify, Sony and Lego were among the other companies in the global top 10.

Forbes’ ranking is not intended to cover every business worldwide. Companies need to meet criteria including having more than 1 000 employees and an international presence. Still, Nedbank’s rise from 49th to 26th gives South Africa a sizeable presence near the top of a list shaped by hundreds of thousands of employee responses.

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**Picture: **@AfricaFactsZone / X

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