NORTH AMERICA 2017:
Boutique | Small | Midsize | Large | About/FAQ

There’s a pattern that we’ve observed at the Holmes Report that illustrates why being a Best Agency to Work For carries so much significance. There’s a direct correlation between the agencies on this list and those that take home our biggest honor — Agency of the Year recognition. That’s, in part, because firms that take culture seriously tend to attract and retain smart and creative talent who, in turn, produce stellar work. It’s a simple formula but one that’s easily overlooked amid the breathless pace and tremendous pressures that are a seemingly inevitable reality of agency life. But this pace is exactly why agencies shouldn’t underestimate the power its culture has on the work its employees produce.

The firms recognized on the rankings include a some holding companies firms and many independents — some have generous benefits, others prioritize professional development or interesting work that keeps talent engaged. We’re working on an in-depth feature that will more deeply explore the factors that drive employee engagement within our industry. All participating firms, of course, can also obtain their own results mapped against either the industry or its competitive set. These will be available in May.

But in the meantime, some uplifting news — most PR professionals have an optimistic outlook on the place they work. In fact, 87% of the respondents in North America say they would recommend their company as a great place to work and about the same percentage say they are passionate about providing exceptional client experiences. We’ll include more data like this in coming weeks and in the feature.  

For now, there are the winners and runners up for the Best Agencies to Work For - North America in 2017. (Click on the category for full write-ups on the Top 5).

Best Agency to Work For, Large: Porter Novelli
Finalists:  Golin, Cohn & Wolfe, APCO, Ketchum

Best Agency to Work For, Midsize: Jackson Spalding
Finalists: M Booth, Text 100, Marina Maher Communications, Fahlgren Mortine

Best Agency to Work For, Small: GCI Health
Finalists: PAN Communications, LaunchSquad, Racepoint Global, Havas Formula

Best Agency to Work For, Boutique: Davies