4 Arkansas firms place on Forbes’ list

Four Arkansas-based businesses have been listed as one of Forbes’ Best Large Employers of 2024.

Arcbest, Simmons Foods, Arvest Bank and J.B. Hunt Transportation made the list of 600 businesses.

The annual ranking is produced in partnership with Statista, a market research firm, and compiles surveys of U.S. companies with more than 5,000 workers.

Survey respondents are made up from current employees, past employees and even individuals familiar with the company, according to Forbes. However, greater weight is placed on responses from current and past employees.

New to the methodology this year was the inclusion of data from the past three years — with more recent data weighted more heavily — to better identify companies that have been rated well consistently over time.

Fort Smith-based ArcBest ranked the highest out of Arkansas businesses on the list at 95.

Simmons Foods and Arvest Bank were in the middle of the pack with rankings of 195 and 237, respectively.

J.B. Hunt landed at 586, the third time the company has made the list.

Shelley Simpson, J.B. Hunt president, said the company was honored to receive the awards and recognition, which showcases the integrity of their brand and the confidence of the people behind it.

“Being among Fortune’s most respected and admired companies in the world demonstrates our mission of driving long-term value for our people, customers and shareholders,” she said in a Feb. 13 news release. “It’s all made possible by our employees, and the Forbes acknowledgment indicates that the workplace culture we have fostered is one they are proud to recommend.”

Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield also received recognition by Forbes, as the company placed 166, on Forbes’ Best Midsize Employers of 2024 list.