Turkish Conglomerate Sabancı Ranks Among Forbes Top 25 Global Employers
Istanbul, Wednesday, 30 September 2026.
Sabancı Holding climbed to 23rd globally on Forbes’ 2026 employer list, surpassing major multinational corporations and maintaining its position as Türkiye’s top employer.
Global Recognition and Regional Dominance
Turkish industrial and financial conglomerate Sabancı Holding has secured the 23rd spot globally in the Forbes World’s Best Employers 2026 list published on September 30, 2026 [1][2]. The holding retained its top position in Türkiye for the second consecutive year while placing second globally within the conglomerates sector and seventh across Europe [1][5]. This ranking highlights how major emerging market conglomerates are increasingly competing with Western corporations for top-tier global talent and workplace culture standards [2][4]. The achievement marks Sabancı Holding’s ninth consecutive inclusion on the Forbes World’s Best Employers list, solidifying its reputation in the international labor market [1][3].
Historical Performance and Ranking Trajectory
The 2026 ranking represents a significant advancement from previous years, with Sabancı Holding moving from 51st place in 2025 and 195th place in 2024 [1][3]. The company improved its global standing by 172 positions compared to its 2024 ranking, demonstrating a rapid ascent in employer branding [3][5]. In the context of Turkish companies, Sabancı Holding leads the nation, with Koç Holding following at 139th, İş Bankası at 419th, Yıldız Holding at 487th, and Türk Hava Yolları at 603rd [2][4]. This consistent upward trend underscores the effectiveness of the company’s long-term human resources strategies [4][5].
Methodology and Evaluation Criteria
The Forbes World’s Best Employers 2026 ranking, conducted with Statista, surveyed over 300,000 employees across more than 50 countries, evaluating 900 companies from 52 nations [1][2]. The scoring system was based on criteria including the likelihood of recommending the employer, salary, career opportunities, work-life balance, and corporate reputation [4][5]. Data was combined with results from the previous three years, with greater weight given to current data and existing employee evaluations [3][4]. To be eligible for evaluation, companies were required to have more than 1,000 employees and operate on a global scale [2][5].
Strategic Focus on Human Capital
Kıvanç Zaimler, CEO of Sabancı Holding, stated that the company is navigating an era where artificial intelligence and technology are rapidly transforming the way people work [1][5]. Zaimler emphasized that the true driver of a company’s future will be leaders who know how to harness technology, guide transformation, and act responsibly in an accelerating landscape [1][4]. He noted that across diverse operations spanning energy, financial services, mobility, digital technologies, and advanced materials, the strongest bond uniting the company is confidence in its people [1][5]. The CEO affirmed that attracting talent and creating an environment where they want to stay and thrive is viewed as a holistic priority [3][4].