The top global development employers in 2023
A year's worth of job postings provides a snapshot of hiring trends for the new year, including who is hiring the most across five different organization types.
With 2023 in the books, we now have a year’s worth of Devex job board data to determine who the most active global development employers are, as we head into the new year. This is something we’ve done for several years now, but we noticed that many of the same organizations tend to land in the top 10 each time. So this year, to give a broader scope of the employers that were the busiest recruiting in 2023, we’ve identified the top one in five different organization types. We’re also sharing some further insights specific to these organizations based on what we learned from speaking to insiders and the many job board data analyses we conducted last year. Devex Career Account members can access our complete guide to the top employers of 2023, which features 15 organizations and more career advice from recruiters. If you’re not yet a member, sign up today for a free 15-day trial to access this guide, all of our job postings, exclusive events and workshops, articles, and more Top United Nations agency UNICEF Headquarters: New York City, United States. Year founded: 1946. No. of jobs posted in 2023: 7,217. Top locations: United States, Switzerland, Ukraine, Kenya, Ethiopia. Top sectors: Social and inclusive development, global health, careers and education. UNICEF is the United Nations’ leading agency for protecting every child's rights and reaching the most vulnerable children and adolescents worldwide. It’s often one of the top organizations hiring across a variety of sectors and regions, including in the U.N. hub cities of New York, Nairobi, and Bangkok. It also offered the most remote opportunities of any development employer in an analysis we conducted in September. View all current job postings from UNICEF on Devex. Top multilateral development bank World Bank Group Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States. Year founded: 1944. No. of jobs posted in 2023: 4,388. Top locations: United States, India, Madagascar, Burundi, Pakistan. Top sectors: Banking and finance, economic development, innovation and ICT. The World Bank is a global finance institution that works to reduce poverty, boost economic growth, and promote sustainable development. For those interested in pursuing consulting opportunities with the bank, Roberto Amorosino, a former senior HR specialist for the World Bank Group, advised on how to approach networking during a Devex career event in June. “We should always have an objective, and the main objective of connecting with an individual, for me, is not to share as much as I can about myself. But the main objective is to understand and actually agree on how to keep the conversation going,” Amorosino said. View all current job postings from the World Bank Group on Devex. Top international NGO Danish Refugee Council Headquarters: Copenhagen, Denmark. Year founded: 1956. No. of jobs posted in 2023: 2,333. Top locations: Ukraine, Colombia, Ethiopia, Denmark, Sudan. Top sectors: Humanitarian aid, social and inclusive development, banking and finance. DRC is the largest Danish NGO dedicated to protecting and building sustainable futures for displacement-affected people and communities. In October, Iosif Sofios, a recruitment specialist with the organization’s human resources team, explained where DRC is hiring the most staff and why. “The top countries right now are Ukraine, then Colombia. There are fluctuations in recruitment depending on where there is a humanitarian need as a consequence of external events, such as crises or conflicts. Yemen, Iraq, and Ethiopia are other countries where there have been many vacancies during the past year,” he said. View all current job postings from DRC on Devex. Top bilateral agency Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Headquarters: London, United Kingdom. Year founded: 2020. No. of jobs posted in 2023: 1,395. Top locations: United Kingdom, United States, Brazil, India, Mexico. Top sectors: Trade and policy, media and communications, innovation and ICT. FCDO is the British government department that oversees the protection and promotion of British interests around the world. It is also among the top non-U.N. organizations offering opportunities in New York and Bangkok, according to Devex job board analysis conducted last year. View all current job postings from FCDO on Devex. Top development consulting firm Chemonics International Inc. Headquarters: Washington, D.C., United States. Year founded: 1975. No. of jobs posted in 2023: 843. Top locations: United States, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Pakistan, Kenya. Top sectors: Global health, banking and finance, innovation and ICT. Chemonics International implements innovative solutions to global challenges related to food security, climate change, social inclusion, education, and many more. It posted more jobs on Devex that included salary information than any other for-profit organization, according to Devex job board analysis conducted last year. “Prior experience with our clients, competitors, and partners will make an application stand out,” Agnieszka Christian, Chemonics’ senior director of talent management, told Devex in March. View all current job postings from Chemonics International on Devex. Ready to stand out from the crowd and get noticed by the recruiters who matter most? Update your Devex profile and start connecting with top global development recruiters now.
With 2023 in the books, we now have a year’s worth of Devex job board data to determine who the most active global development employers are, as we head into the new year. This is something we’ve done for several years now, but we noticed that many of the same organizations tend to land in the top 10 each time.
So this year, to give a broader scope of the employers that were the busiest recruiting in 2023, we’ve identified the top one in five different organization types. We’re also sharing some further insights specific to these organizations based on what we learned from speaking to insiders and the many job board data analyses we conducted last year.
Devex Career Account members can access our complete guide to the top employers of 2023, which features 15 organizations and more career advice from recruiters. If you’re not yet a member, sign up today for a free 15-day trial to access this guide, all of our job postings, exclusive events and workshops, articles, and more
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Genevieve Gregorio is a Data Quality and Knowledge Management Associate at Devex. She is part of the Data Collections Team, focusing on overall content strategy, ensuring quality and accurate data and providing support in research and analysis. She has a bachelor's degree in International Studies from Miriam College and a master's degree in Political Economy from the University of Asia and the Pacific.
Justin is a contributing writer and editor who previously led Devex’s careers content strategy. Before joining Devex, Justin served as the managing editor of Springwise, covering sustainable and climate-tech innovation across all business sectors. He also spent over 13 years as an editor and writer for the New York Times, specializing in digital content production and strategy while producing written and multimedia content on a range of topics, including travel, sports, and technology.
