Tampa Bay university named a top employer by magazine

The University of South Florida has been named one of the Sunshine State’s best employers in rankings released by Forbes magazine.

According to a news release announcing the magazine’s latest America’s Best Employers by State list, USF is No. 21 out of 100 public and private organization in Florida, and No. 2 among the state’s colleges and universities.

Working with market research company Statista, the release states, Forbes surveyed 70,000 Americans working for companies that employed at least 500 people. Survey topics included working conditions, salary, potential for growth, remote-work benefits and initiatives related to diversity, equity and inclusion.

“The University of South Florida is proud to be recognized by Forbes as one of the top employers in Florida,” USF President Rhea Law states in the release. “Our faculty and staff are crucial to achieving our strategic goals of promoting student success, strengthening excellence in research and enhancing partnerships and collaborations within and outside of USF. We value our employees and are committed to recruiting and retaining top talent by fostering an inclusive culture that supports their well-being.” 

USF employs nearly 15,700 people across its campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sarasota-Manatee. 

USF “has taken an inward focus to invest in its people,” states Angie Sklenka, the university’s vice president and chief human resources officer, in the release. “When faculty and staff are energized and find joy at work, our students and research will flourish.

“Higher education is finally acknowledging the importance of the need for a modern talent management infrastructure. USF recognizes human resources as a strategic benefit to our organizational performance and has elevated the function to the president to support the growth of our people.”