33 Top Retailers for Starting a Career: Survey

Who are the best retailers to launch a career? Newsweek identified the top such firms (with 1000 or more workers) in a large-scale national survey/research study that identified the best places to start a career in a variety of industries, including retail.

“The modern job market isn’t just about skills; it’s about a fundamental shift in values,” said Jennifer Cunningham, Newsweek’s Editor-in-Chief. “Younger generations prioritize purpose and well-being, while employers struggle to bridge the gap between traditional expectations and digital-first habits. To thrive, both must move beyond the noise and build a foundation of genuine trust.”

Below are the 33 retailers that won the highest ranking (5 stars) in the study:

Bath & Body Works      

Bed Bath & Beyond      

Best Buy        

Build-A-Bear

The Children’s Place            

Converse                

Costco           

Dick’s Sporting Goods

The Exchange                    

Famous Footwear                 

Five Below             

Foot Locker Inc.            

Gap

H-E-B              

Hot Topic                

Lowe’s Cos.           

Men’s Wearhouse        

Nike                 

Publix                      

Retail Merchandising Services

Sam’s Club   

Sephora

Starbucks              

Steve Madden      

Target     

Trader Joe’s           

Ulta Beauty  

Vans       

Victoria’s Secret & Co.                 

Walmart

Whole Foods Market  

ZARA      

Zumiez 

Click here for the full roster of businesses rated by the Newsweek study, including nearly 70 more retailers that received either 4.5 or 4 stars. (The roster also includes an extensive number of restaurant chains.)