NORTH KANSAS CITY — North Kansas City Hospital and Meritas Health climbed in its rankings of best employers in Missouri on Forbes’ latest list. The hospital and Meritas Health ranked No. 16 on Forbes’ Best Employers by State list, moving up four spots from last year.

This marks the fourth time in five years North Kansas City Hospital and Meritas Health have appeared on the list.

In July, the hospital and Meritas Health were ranked No. 63 nationally on the Forbes Best Employers For Women list. There were 51 hospitals on this list of 600 companies.

According to a press release, these employers were recognized for placing women in leadership roles, closing the gender wage gap and nurturing a more equitable environment for women.

“I am pleased to receive this recognition of our supportive employee environment,” said hospital CEO Stephen Reintjes Sr. “We have worked intentionally to build a culture that welcomes diversity, celebrates excellence and provides opportunity.”

To develop the Best Employers by State list, Forbes worked with the market research firm Statista, which surveyed more than 16,000 employees across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. at companies with at least 500 employees. Participants were asked to rank how likely they were to recommend their employer and to evaluate them. Only 75 companies were selected in each state.

In building the Best Employers for Women list, Forbes also worked with Statista, surveying more than 150,000 women at companies with at least 1,000 employees in the United States. Participants were asked about the working environment, pay equity, parental leave, handling of sexual misconduct and discrimination claims and if they would recommend the employer.