Employer Branding for Chemical Companies: 2026 Strategies to Attract Top Talent
The chemical industry has been at the heart of global innovation - from materials science to sustainable fuels.
But behind every breakthrough lies a critical issue: hiring and retaining great people.
Let’s start with what the numbers and statistics that matter for larger chemical companies:
- The global chemical market was valued at $4.73 trillion in 2023, and is expected to grow steadily at a CAGR of 6.5% until 2030 (Grand View Research).
- At the same time, 39% of chemical companies cite talent acquisition as their top business challenge (Deloitte Global Chemical Industry Outlook).
- According to Vouch research, companies with strong employer branding see a 50% reduction in cost per hire and attract 50% more qualified applicants.
In essence, without a strong employer brand, chemical companies are at risk of more than not being able to attract top talent, but also the risk of losing top talent.
This article breaks down how you can build and implement a remarkable employer branding strategy, with a step by step guide that works.
Step 1: Use Vouch to Showcase Real People Behind the Chemistry
Your employer brand starts with your own people, and nothing builds trust like video.
Vouch is a video software tool that lets you record and share short videos of your team talking about what it’s like to work at your company, and is video software that is loved by brands like Canva and HubSpot and more - and it helps you bring your culture to life.
Why is Vouch powerful for chemical companies:
- Most chemical roles are highly technical. Video makes them more relatable.
- Candidates want to hear from peers, not just recruiters.
- Perfect for careers pages, LinkedIn, job ads, and onboarding.
Simply have a few of your leading engineers, plant managers, or scientists talking on a Vouch video about why they love their jobs and your company, and you’ll instantly stand out in a crowded market place.
Step 2: Build a Clear Employer Value Proposition (EVP)
In a competitive hiring market, leading candidates will always ask: Why should I work for you instead of another chemical company?
That’s where your EVP comes into play, it defines what your company provides your employees beyond a pay check.
Your EVPs should answer:
- What makes your culture unique?
- What kind of impact can employees make?
- What growth opportunities are there?
- How are you supporting employees' well-being?
Pro tip: Interview employees across departments and use their language to shape your EVP, while avoiding buzzwords and keeping everything authentic.
Bring your employer brand to life
- Empower employees’ storytelling
- Transform careers sites with video
- AI-driven video editing
- Publish videos anywhere
Step 3: Create a Careers Page That Tells a Story
Your careers page is often your first impression and you need to make it count.
Key videos for chemical companies:
- Videos from real employees using Vouch.
- Project case studies, real examples of what are you working on.
- Visuals of your labs, plants, or R&D centers that you can show without concern
- Transparent salary ranges and job benefits
- Clear hiring process and timelines
Here is an example of a highly-effective careers page you can learn from: BASF Careers
Step 4: Get Visible Where Your Talent Lives
The best employer brand in the world doesn’t matter if no one sees it.
Focus on these platforms as priority:
- LinkedIn: Share employee stories, career milestones, or “day in the life” posts.
- Glassdoor: Encourage employees to review your company, especially after onboarding.
- Industry platforms like ICIS, Chemical & Engineering News, and relevant academic networks.
Tip: Use native video on LinkedIn to increase engagement on your posts by up to 120%: LinkedIn Video Insights.
Step 5: Create Employee Advocacy Programs
The best branding doesn’t come from HR or even your managers and execs, it comes from your people.
Pick employee ambassadors who are:
- Passionate about your mission and company
- Comfortable on camera or social media
- Representative of your culture and diversity
Step 6: Showcase Your Commitment To Sustainability
Today’s candidates care deeply about innovation, sustainability and rue purpose.
Showcase if you’re working on:
- Green chemistry
- Waste reduction
- Energy efficiency
- Sustainable packaging
- Any other sustainability strategies
Make sure you highlight these efforts on your website, job ads, and social media. It’s not just about ESG; it’s about showing future employees they’re joining something meaningful and genuine.
According to IBM’s Institute for Business Value, 71% of employees say environmentally sustainable companies are more attractive to work for.
Step 7: Measure Your Employer Brand ROI
It’s not enough to “do branding.” You need to know if it’s working.
Key metrics to track:
- Application volume per job
- Source of hire such as LinkedIn, referral, careers page and more
- Offer acceptance rate and time to fill
- Retention rates at 6 and 12 months
- Candidate Net Promoter Score (cNPS)
Consider running quarterly reviews and use these insights to tweak your messaging, update video content, or double down on what’s working.
Who Are The Top 10 Global Chemical Companies?
1. BASF
Employees: ~111,000, Revenue: $87.3B, https://www.basf.com
2. Dow Inc.
Employees: ~37,800, Revenue: $45B, https://www.dow.com
3. SABIC (Saudi Basic Industries Corp)
Employees: ~31,000, Revenue: $39B, https://www.sabic.com
4. LyondellBasell Industries
Employees: ~19,100, Revenue: $41B, https://www.lyondellbasell.com
5. DuPont de Nemours, Inc.
Employees: ~24,000, Revenue: $13.7B, https://www.dupont.com
6. Air Liquide
Employees: ~67,800, Revenue: $27.5B, https://www.airliquide.com
7. LG Chem
Employees: ~20,000, Revenue: $38.7B, https://www.lgchem.com
8. Mitsubishi Chemical Group
Employees: ~70,000, Revenue: $35B, https://www.mcgc.com
9. INEOS Group
Employees: ~25,000, Revenue: $65B, https://www.ineos.com
10. ExxonMobil Chemical
Employees: Part of ExxonMobil (~63,000 company-wide), Revenue: ~$35B, https://corporate.exxonmobil.com/what-we-do/chemical
Related Vouch Blog Posts
To dive deeper into building authentic and effective employer brands, check out these articles:
- How to Create Recruitment Videos That Actually Work
- Why Candidate Experience is Everything
- Storytelling Tips for Talent Acquisition
FAQs
What is employer branding in chemical companies?
It’s how your company is perceived as an employer by current and potential employees. It includes your culture, values, mission, and employee experience.
Why is employer branding important in the chemical industry?
It helps chemical companies compete for top talent, lower hiring costs, and improve employee retention in a competitive and technical field.
How do I know if our employer brand is weak?
High turnover, low application rates, and negative Glassdoor reviews are key signs. Candidates may also drop out mid-process if the messaging doesn’t resonate.
What tools help chemical companies with employer branding?
Vouch for video content, LinkedIn for outreach, Glassdoor for reputation, and HR analytics tools for tracking performance.
Can smaller chemical firms build strong employer brands too?
Absolutely. Smaller companies can highlight agility, career growth, and direct access to leadership - advantages large firms can’t offer.
How long does it take to see results from employer branding?
Typically, 6–12 months to see noticeable improvements in candidate quality, hiring speed, and retention.
What content works best for employer branding in chemicals?
Employee spotlight videos, sustainability initiatives, real project insights, and clear career paths are top performers.
Summary
In the chemical industry, your competitive edge isn’t just your products, it’s your people.
Building a strong employer brand isn’t a side project; it’s a strategic advantage. But you can start small:
- Capture real employee voices using Vouch
- Share those stories on social media, your careers page and more
- Align your EVP with what your people truly care about
- Measure and improve your employer brand over time
Pro tip: Employer branding is no longer a “nice to have” in the chemical sector. It’s the backbone of your long-term talent strategy.
See Why Employer Branding Managers Love Vouch!
Used by companies like Cisco, Aldi, Ericsson, Canva, Nike, Warner Bros Discovery, HubSpot, Amazon, Mars and thousands more, modern recruiters love Vouch.
Simply book a Vouch demo today to see how Vouch can help!
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