Sunstates Security lands third 2026 Forbes honor for new-grad employers

Sunstates Security ranked No. 145 on Forbes’ 2026 list of America’s Best Employers for New Graduates, adding a third Forbes honor this year. The Raleigh-based contract security company says the recognition underscores its focus on training, internal promotion and employee support.

Why it matters: - Sunstates Security’s latest Forbes ranking signals stronger employer brand appeal for recent graduates and early-career workers. - The company says the placement reflects its effort to reduce turnover in contract security by investing in training, mentoring and internal mobility. - Sunstates Security is the only contract security guarding company included in Forbes’ 2026 employer lists cited in the release.

What happened: - Forbes named Sunstates Security No. 145 on its 2026 list of America’s Best Employers for New Graduates on May 19, 2026. - The ranking covers 500 companies nationwide. - Sunstates Security also placed 4th in the Business Services category and 6th among all ranked companies in North Carolina. - The company says this is its third major Forbes accolade of 2026.

The details: - Forbes partnered with Statista to survey more than 20,000 young professionals. - Survey respondents worked for companies with at least 1,000 employees. - Participants rated employers on reputation, working conditions, salary, team diversity and upward mobility. - Sunstates Security points to a “People-First” culture as a key reason for its showing. - Sunstates Security says it caps management portfolios below the industry standard so leaders remain accessible and responsive. - The company uses Phenom for talent acquisition and internal career pathways. - The company uses WorkStep as a feedback and engagement platform that captures employee comments in real time. - The company uses Docebo to power Sunstates Academy, which offers more than 600 training modules. - Sunstates Academy includes the Leadership Candidate Program for mentorship and advancement. - The company says 29% of its Operations Managers were promoted from within last year.

Between the lines: - The ranking suggests Sunstates Security is trying to compete for younger workers with career-path messaging, not just pay and benefits. - The emphasis on promotion from within is especially relevant in security work, where retention can be difficult and frontline supervision matters. - Multiple Forbes placements in 2026 give Sunstates Security a repeated third-party signal that can help recruitment and client confidence.

What's next: - Sunstates Security is directing job seekers to its open positions as it leans on the Forbes recognition in recruiting. - The company is likely to keep emphasizing training and internal advancement as key differentiators in a competitive labor market. - Sunstates Security did not disclose any new hiring targets or expansion plans in the release.

The bottom line: - Sunstates Security is using its third Forbes honor of 2026 to market itself as a security employer that can offer young professionals a clearer path to growth.**