Rinat Akhmetov's mining and metallurgical company Metinvest has entered the Forbes World's Top Employers for Women 2026 ranking by the American magazine Forbes. Among the 400 participants on the list, the Ukrainian company turned out to be the only one, which, according to experts, highlights the resilience of the employer brand against the backdrop of global competition. The ranking was prepared by Forbes in cooperation with the international research company Statista and is based on a large-scale survey and analysis of open data.
How the Ranking Was Formed
The research involved about 120,000 women from more than 36 countries worldwide, and overall, the organizers analyzed over 800,000 data points. Participants anonymously evaluated their employers, while researchers simultaneously worked with open information about the companies. Among the key criteria were female employees' experiences, employer reputation, public perception of the company, and the representation of women in leadership positions. It was precisely the combination of «internal» employee opinions and external indicators that made it possible to form the final picture.
The Significance of Recognition for Metallurgy
For the mining and metallurgical industry, such recognition is of special significance: this is traditionally a sector with a high proportion of men due to production specifics and physical loads. Nevertheless, at Metinvest today, about 30% of employees are women, and against the background of about 8.5 thousand company employees serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, women are increasingly mastering professions that were previously considered predominantly male. The company notes that decisions on hiring, remuneration, and career advancement are made on the basis of professional competencies and work results regardless of gender.
Women in Leadership and the Training System
Women occupy about a quarter of middle and senior management positions in the company. Female employees can master new professions, improve their qualifications, and receive technical education at Metinvest Polytechnic. Thus, the company is building a vertical of personnel development — from initial hiring to the training of engineering and technical specialists at its own university.
Investments and Veteran Support
Metinvest is one of the largest investors in the Ukrainian economy: since February 24, 2022, the company has invested over 28 billion hryvnias. In addition, the company has repeatedly been named the best employer for veterans and engineering students — currently, Metinvest accounts for almost a third of veterans who have returned to work at large business enterprises. According to the Delo.ua ranking, the company entered the top three leaders among the best employers for veterans, receiving 94.83 points; as of the beginning of 2026, the company has 1,022 veterans, and since 2023, a comprehensive reintegration system has been operating, covering medical, psychological, and physical rehabilitation, social adaptation, training, and financial support. The company's university, Metinvest Polytechnic, offers veterans preferential admission to promising engineering specialties — without exams, based on interview results.
