FIFA, football’s world governing body, the International Olympic Committee and UEFA, the continental governing body for football, are the Top 3 Most Attractive Employers for those who already work, or wish to work in sport, for the third year running, according to a report published by iWorkinSport.
Real Madrid (4th) gained 4 places compared to last year, while FIBA climbed 12 (!) places to clinch a position in the Top 5 Overall.
The study surveyed almost 1,500 people from all continents, with the majority already working in sport, and asked them a simple question: “If you could choose to work anywhere in sport, where would that be?”. At first, the respondents chose organisations divided into ten categories and, at the end, they indicated one single preferred choice, overall – the “Employer of their Dreams”.
Despite a few changes in positions, the Overall Top 20 ranking had only four new entries, compared to 2022. Sportfive (6th) was the first sports marketing agency to ever enter the selected list. Together with the Premier League (14th), LaLiga (17th) and AC Milan (20th), they replaced Manchester City FC, the NFL, the ICC (International Cricket Council) and Juventus FC as the respondents' top 20 favourite places to work in sport.
The publication also features rankings of the most attractive employers in sport divided in the following categories: Football Clubs, Sports Teams (other than Football), Sports Teams in the USA, Sports Leagues, Sports Governing Bodies, Event Organisers, Sports Marketing Agencies, Sponsors, Sporting Goods Companies and Sports Tech.
Additionally, the report presents the aspects that candidates rate as most important when deciding where they would like to work.
In terms of types of organisations, sports professionals showed a preference for the excitement of working at a sports team (32% of the responses). Governing bodies (23%), Event Organisers (14%) and Sports Leagues (12%) follow. Sports Marketing agencies, sponsors and sporting goods brands were also named as places candidates would prefer to work.
More about The Most Attractive Employers in Sport 2023
The survey was conducted from 16 January 2023 to 17 March 2023 and had 1,587 respondents, from 93 nationalities, with 95% having at least a bachelor degree and 61% with postgraduate education, while 78% already work in sport. Detailed demographics data is available in the report.
The Most Attractive Employers in Sport Awards 2023
The second edition of The Most Attractive Employers in Sport Awards happened on Thursday, June 1st, at the Olympic Museum, in Lausanne, Switzerland, as part of the iWorkinSport Job Fair. Talent Acquisition and HR representatives from the companies exhibiting at the event attended a VIP dinner and awards ceremony.
