U.S. technology giant Apple has been named the best employer in Australia for 2026 by TIME and Statista. The annual list, which identifies top companies based on independent employee surveys, ranked 300 businesses operating in Australia.
Statista conducted surveys involving more than 200,000 employee evaluations across a wide range of industries in Australia. The survey posed open-ended questions, asking employees about their willingness to recommend their current employer and other companies within their respective sectors. The results were used to compile the list of Australia's Best Employers 2026.
While Apple secured the top spot, the majority of companies featured in the upper echelons of the ranking are Australian or New Zealand-based. These include fintech company Xero at number two, software company Atlassian at number four, and Canva ranked at number nine. Other notable inclusions are Ainsworth Game Technology, a manufacturer of casino slot machines, at number ten, and digital construction firm Built Construction at number eight.
The strong presence of technology firms on the list reflects a broader trend of growth within Australia's startup ecosystem. Recent years have seen increased attention and investment from venture capitalists in the Australian startup scene. A 2026 report from Side Stage Ventures indicated that Australian startups are utilizing venture funding more effectively than those in other countries, producing 1.22 unicorns for every $1 billion invested.