American Opportunity Index Names Southwest Top Airline for Job Growth and Opportunity

 Southwest Airlines Co. has been recognized as an Employer Honoree on the 2023 American Opportunity Index. The ranking measures the effectiveness of companies in developing talent to drive business performance and advance individual employees' careers. Southwest ranked as the top airline on the Index for the second consecutive year.

"From our first flight in 1971 until today, it's our People that make Southwest the airline with Heart," said Elizabeth Bryant, Senior Vice President & Chief People Officer at Southwest Airlines. "My Southwest journey began 26 years ago as a Training Instructor, and I've loved supporting various Teams and diversifying my career in ways I never imagined since then. Southwest's dedication to fostering an environment that celebrates and empowers Employees creates continued learning and growth opportunities across all stages of careers."

Southwest Airlines encourages its People to pursue their passions by leveraging the carrier's resources to achieve their career aspirations. Southwest's Career Mobility Center offers Employees a place to explore internal career opportunities, discover new roles, or prepare for a promotion through services like career advising sessions, resume review, interview preparation resources, and more. The airline also provides numerous career growth and development resources to diversify skill sets, including in-person or virtual courses, mentorship programs, and more.

The American Opportunity Index is a joint project of the Burning Glass Institute, Harvard Business School's Managing the Future of Work Project, and the Schultz Family Foundation. The Index is the only measure of employer quality that evaluates Employees at America's largest employers over time, assessing how well companies manage their most important asset—their people. The Index's results aren't based on corporate surveys but on an independent analysis drawn from how Employees reported changes in their work history on social media and online resume platforms, as well as comprehensive salary and job-posting data.