Top tech multinationals such as Apple, Google and Microsoft are the most desirable employers for Gen Z students, new research has revealed, with pharmaceutical giants also ranking highly.
The Most Attractive Employers Index Ireland 2022 was compiled by Universum, part of IrishJobs.ie, and questioned more than 8,000 students in Ireland across business and economics, IT, engineering, natural sciences, humanities, law and medicine.
Among business and economics, IT and engineering students, Google, Microsoft and Apple were the top three choices, with Amazon and Intel close behind. Engineering students ranked Intel as their top choice.
Airlines also bounced back from the Covid chill in last year’s rankings, with business and economics students particularly interested in working at the companies. For that cohort, Aer Lingus ranked at number 12, while Ryanair gained 11 places to number 20. The rankings were ninth and 15th respectively for engineering students.
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High-profile engagement with the Covid-19 vaccine development effort saw multinational pharmaceutical companies continue to ride high in the rankings. For Natural Sciences students, Pfizer was the top choice, with Johnson & Johnson and Boston Scientific second and third respectively. The HSE was in fourth place, with Glanbia in fifth.
Pfizer dropped to fifth for engineering students and 15th among those studying IT.
Steve Ward, UK and Ireland business director with Universum said the index offered an important snapshot of the type of companies and attributes that current students and graduates are searching for in their future employer.
“With renowned tech and pharmaceutical multinationals leading the way in this year’s Index, it’s clear that third-level students are keen play their part in helping to shape the growing digital and scientific transformation that is underway across our economy and society, not only in Ireland, but across the globe. Both science and technology played a vital role during the COVID-19 pandemic, enabling people to work from home, businesses to continue functioning and healthcare to take place virtually, while also resulting in the development of a number of vaccines to help protect people during what was an extremely unsettling and uncertain period,” he said.
“The success of tech leaders such as Google, Microsoft, Apple and Intel in the market, and their ability to embrace new technologies and drive innovation during this period, have emerged as key drivers for students in choosing these companies, something which should help to give an indication of the type of attributes graduates today are searching for in their future employer.”
There were new entries to the index, with An Post, Irish Rail and AXA Insurance entering the rankings. Mr Ward said it was encouraging to see Irish companies ranking well among students in this year’s index.
