DECODE, a Toronto-based research and consulting company with a focus on youth, recently conducted a national survey of more than 27,000 students in more than 50 universities and colleges to get a bead on the kind of companies this emerging labour force deems "more cool than school."

The From Learning to Work 2008 survey, released in September 2008, is the largest and most comprehensive of its kind in Canada. What do graduating students consider the most desirable places to work?

Below is the TOP 40.

 Rank Employer Rank Employer
 
1 Government of Canada
21 Johnson & Johnson
2 Health Canada
22 TD Bank Financial Group / TD Canada Trust
3 Google
23 3M
4 Provincial Government 24 Pfizer Canada
5 Apple 25 KPMG
6 Microsoft
26 Bombardier
7 Air Canada
27 Canada Revenue Agency
8 CBC
28 Canadian Forces
9 Westjet
29 Procter & Gamble Canada
10 Research In Motion (RIM)
30 PricewaterhouseCoopers
11 Electronic Arts
31 Public Service Commission
12 L'Oreal Canada
32 Honda
13 Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS)
33 Boeing
14 IBM
34 Canadian Natural Resources Limited
15 RCMP
35 RBC Financial Group / Royal Bank of Canada
16 Deloitte
36 Shell Canada
17 Ernst & Young
37 JP Morgan Investment Bank
18 Toyota
38 Goldman Sachs
19 Bank of Canada 39 Starbucks
20 Fairmont Hotels & Resorts 40 BC Hydro
Want more insight into WHY these companies scored so highly? Read all about it.