In a rapidly reshaping automotive sector marked by accelerated electrification, the rise of software and global competition for skills, BMW Group is establishing itself as one of the most attractive employers on the planet. The Bavarian carmaker tops several international benchmark rankings in 2025, including the Trendence Professionals Barometer for the 14ᵉ year running. This recognition goes beyond the image of the car brand alone, and reflects a structured strategy designed as a key lever for the Group’s industrial, technological and environmental transformation.
Sustainable benchmark performance
For the fourteenth year running, BMW Group has been ranked first in Germany’s Trendence Professionals Barometer. This ranking, based on the responses of nearly 18,000 academics, measures the attractiveness of employers to young graduates and qualified professionals. This national domination is matched by European and global recognition.
BMW is one of the most popular companies among European students, ranking seventh in the world among future engineers. These results reflect the Group’s ability to remain attractive to the younger generation, while appealing to highly qualified profiles who no longer see themselves solely in the traditional automotive sector.
BMW, manufacturer and technology company
One of the key findings of these rankings is the diversity of profiles attracted to the BMW Group. The company is also one of the world’s most attractive employers for IT and business students, confirming its gradual shift towards a technology-based business model. At a time when vehicles are becoming software platforms on wheels, when data, the cloud and AI are taking centre stage, BMW is succeeding in positioning itself as a credible arena for expression in the face of digital pure players.
This is a strategic achievement, given that the battle for IT talent has become a decisive factor in the future competitiveness of carmakers. This cross-functional appeal is enabling the Group to put together teams capable of working at the interface between industry, digital technology and sustainability, a key challenge if the transition to electric and connected mobility is to succeed.
Worldwide recognition by Forbes
BMW Group’s recognition extends far beyond Europe. In the Forbes ranking « World’s Best Employers 2025 », the Group is ranked fifth in the world, all industries combined. This is not only the best performance for a car manufacturer, but also for a German and European company.
This position reinforces the image of a group capable of offering an attractive working environment on an international scale, in a context of increasing globalisation of careers. The ranking also underlines the consistency between BMW’s external reputation and the perception of its employees, a point that is often decisive for long-term attractiveness.
Highly consistent internal indicators
According to data provided by the Group, 92% of employees say they are proud to work for BMW, while 87% would recommend the company as an employer. These figures reflect a solid social and professional climate, reinforced by ongoing training, international mobility and skills development policies. BMW also relies on competitive working conditions, health and well-being schemes, and greater flexibility in work organisation. These have become essential levers for retaining talent in a rapidly changing sector. BMW defends the success of the technological and environmental transition by focusing above all on people.
The electrification of ranges, the digitalisation of factories, the integration of software and AI all require new skills, but also a corporate culture capable of embracing change. By placing employer attractiveness at the heart of its strategy, BMW is seeking to build a resilient organisation capable of long-term innovation. This approach makes talent management a real pillar of industrial competitiveness. In an automotive sector facing unprecedented upheaval, BMW Group is demonstrating that a manufacturer can remain successful, desirable and credible, provided it considers its employees to be as decisive a strategic advantage as its technologies or platforms.
Sources: press.bmwgroup.com
