The American Opportunity Index has recognized Dallas-based Southwest Airlines as an ‘Employer Honoree,’ a ranking that measures the effectiveness of companies in developing talent to drive business performance and advance employees’ careers.
This is the second consecutive year that Southwest has ranked as the top airline on the index.
“From our first flight in 1971 until today, it’s our people that make Southwest the airline with heart,” said Elizabeth Bryant, senior vice president and chief people officer at Southwest Airlines, in a news release.
“My Southwest journey began 26 years ago as a training instructor, and I’ve loved supporting various teams and diversifying my career in ways I never imagined since then. Southwest’s dedication to fostering an environment that celebrates and empowers employees creates continued learning and growth opportunities across all stages of careers.”
The American Opportunity Index is a project of the Burning Glass Institute, the Schultz Family Foundation, and the Harvard Business School’s Managing the Future of Work Project.
“The Index is the only measure of employer quality that evaluates employees at America’s largest employers over time, assessing how well companies manage their most important asset — their people. The Index’s results aren’t based on corporate surveys but on an independent analysis drawn from how employees reported changes in their work history on social media and online resume platforms, as well as comprehensive salary and job-posting data.”
Southwest said it “encourages its people to pursue their passions by leveraging the carrier’s resources to achieve their career aspirations.”
Based in Dallas, Southwest employs about 72,000 people, including more than 10,000 pilots. It operates more than 4,000 flights each day during peak travel times.
