Nominate your company for Top Workplaces 2019

Anyone who casually peruses the list of “jobs you may be interested in” on their Linkedin notifications likely already knows what the unemployment figures are telling us: unemployment is down and job openings are up.

As the Times Union launches the eighth annual Top Workplaces nominations period, unemployment in the greater Capital Region was below 4 percent this summer, according to the latest statistics from the New York state Labor Department, a 17-year low.

And in New York state, unemployment is at 4.2 percent, its lowest level since 2007.

That means workers have options, and employers offering what people want — great cultures, meaningful work, flexibility — will keep and attract the best talent.

Whether you are an employee or the boss, you know if the place where you work or call the shots has got the goods — and we want to hear about it.

The nomination period for the Times Union 2019 Top Workplaces is officially open, now through Oct. 26.

Nominating an employer is easy: Just go to http://timesunion.com/ nominate or call 518-636-0132.

Any organization with 35 or more employees in the greater Capital Region is eligible to participate, including public, private, nonprofit, government workplaces. We define the geographic area as Albany, Columbia, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Herkimer, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren and Washington counties.

To choose winners, short, 24-statement employee surveys will be conducted by Energage, formerly Workplacedynamics, the Times Union’s research partner in this project. Energage conducted Top Workplaces surveys for 50 major metro newspapers and surveyed

2.5 million employees at more than 6,000 organizations in 2017.

Companies will be surveyed during September through November.

Employers then will be ranked in small, medium and large categories. The winners will be announced in a special report to be published in April 2019, and a springtime cocktail party will also celebrate honorees.

Last year 50 Capital Region companies out of 78 that participated in the survey made the cut to be named Top Workplaces.

The Times Union Top Workplaces is more than an awards program. It aims to provide helpful feedback to employers, no matter where they rank.

Participation is free and voluntary. Employers can pay Energage for more detailed evaluations, but there is no obligation.

“Top Workplaces is more than just recognition,” said Doug Claffey, CEO of Energage. “Our research shows organizations that earn the award attract better talent, experience lower turnover, and are better equipped to deliver bottom-line results. Their leaders prioritize and carefully craft a healthy workplace culture that supports employee engagement.”