Events & AwardsMay 27, 2026
5 Security Tips for Las Vegas Jewelry Market Week 2026This year, it’s what could happen outside of show hours that worries JSA Executive Vice President Scott Guginsky.
SurveysAug 13, 2014
What cities have the most enthusiastic employees?
Employees are highly engaged in Huntsville, Ala. and Miami but are feeling less workplace love in Las Vegas and Lincoln, Neb., a survey shows.
Huntsville, Ala. was ranked No. 1 in the country for employee engagement (at 77.6 percent), according to a recent study by Quantum Workplace.
Omaha, Neb.--Across the country, employee engagement--having workers who are dedicated to their jobs and want to see the company succeed--is the highest it’s been since 2009, according to a recent study by Quantum Workplace.
The results are based on a survey that included 400,000 employees at nearly 5,000 organizations in 41 cities conducted between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2013.
The 2014 Employee Engagement Trends Report measures the level of engagement based on 37 items that fall into 10 areas of engagement: teamwork, manager effectiveness, trust in senior leaders, trust with coworkers, retention, alignment with goals, feeling valued, individual contribution, job satisfaction and benefits.
Employee engagement has been on a slow rise since 2011, as companies recover from the recession. Of the total number of employees surveyed in 2013, 68 percent ranked as engaged.
According to the survey, the cities with most engaged employees, followed by percentage of employees engaged at the workplace, are as follows.
1. Huntsville, Ala.--77.6 percent
2. Miami-Dade, Fla.--74.7 percent
3. Nashville, Tenn.--74.4 percent
4. Austin, Texas--74.2 percent
5. San Antonio, Texas--73.5 percent
The study also found that Huntsville experienced the greatest increase in engagement with a nearly 18 percent increase when compared with all other participating cities, followed by Cincinnati (up 12.5 percent), Omaha, Neb. (up 8.5 percent), St. Louis (up 7.3 percent) and South Florida (up 6.5 percent).
The report also identified the bottom five cities for employee engagement.
1. Lincoln, Neb.--57.1 percent
2. Kansas City, Kan.--59.6 percent
3. Minneapolis/St. Paul--60.7 percent
4. Albuquerque, N.M.--61.2 percent
5. Las Vegas--61.3 percent
Quantum Workplace said that the same three survey items over the past seven years have been at the top of driving engagement: having leaders that are committed to making it a great place to work, trust that the leaders of the organization will set the right course, and a belief that the organization will be successful in the future.
Engagement of employees is important not only to keep them happy and increase retention and productivity but also because the companies with higher engagement also reported higher profits and sales, according to the report.
The firm found that 91 percent of executives were engaged compared with 60 percent of hourly employees, and that employees working in human resources, sales and marketing were more engaged than any other departments.
Additionally, women were slightly less engaged than men and were more driven by
security in their personal lives while professional development was more critical to driving Millennial engagement than any other age group.
Full results of the Employee Engagement Trends Report can be found here.
Full results of the Employee Engagement Trends Report can be found here.
More on Surveys
The Latest
ColumnistsMay 27, 2026
What Jewelers Can Learn From Luxury Fashion’s Digital PlaybookHigh-end fashion houses know how to emotionally connect with customers online. Retail jewelers should take note, Emmanuel Raheb writes.
Events & AwardsMay 27, 2026
Couture’s ‘The Iridescence’ Will Showcase 7 Emerging Jewelry DesignersThe designers are the third cohort of mentees from the show’s Belonging @ Couture mentorship program.
Brought to you by
All Eyes on Gold Prices. Alternatives to Look For. And What to BEWARE of in VegasAs gold prices rise, today’s retailers are looking for alternatives at prices that will appeal to wider audiences.
ColumnistsMay 26, 2026
The Key Mindset for Better Trade Show BuyingBuying discipline at trade shows starts with clarity about your inventory levels, Smith writes.
Weekly QuizMay 21, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
Events & AwardsMay 26, 2026
12 JCK Talks Sessions to Add to Your Las Vegas ScheduleThe trade show’s education series returns, with sessions on retail trends, AI, watches, marketing, corporate responsibility, and more.
Events & AwardsMay 26, 2026
CBG Brings Its Curated Designer Project to Las Vegas ShowThe Curated Designer Project has expanded to highlight eight independent jewelry designers during CBG’s Las Vegas show.
Brought to you by
How Modern Training Is Becoming a Competitive Advantage for Jewelry RetailersWith the trade and customer trust in mind, GIA® developed NextGem™ – on-demand training designed specifically for retail.
TrendsMay 26, 2026
Amanda’s Style File: A Cooldown Is ComingBring a cool tone to your summer jewelry with these white metal pieces.
Events & AwardsMay 22, 2026
Instore Buys JA New York ShowThe deal closed this week, which means Instore will produce the JA NY show slated to take place this fall.
FinancialsMay 22, 2026
Richemont’s Jewelry Brands Lead the Charge in Q4The company’s jewelry sales were up in Q4 and the fiscal year, with Richemont raising prices in part because of the cost of gold.
CollectionsMay 22, 2026
Leigh Maxwell Celebrates 5 Years at Couture With ‘Bauble’ CollectionThe “Bauble” capsule collection of colorful one-of-a-kinds includes our Piece of the Week, the “Bauble” earrings, featuring rose zircon.
MajorsMay 22, 2026
Stuller’s New Packaging, Display Catalog Is Out The updated catalog has a newly dedicated section for gift wrapping.
PodcastsMay 21, 2026
Episode 5: Sotheby’s Frank Everett Puts the Auction Market in PerspectiveEverett covers colored stones’ surging popularity, the mellow return of the “Mellon Blue,” and his “The Devil Wears Prada” doppelgänger.
IndependentsMay 21, 2026
Springer’s Jewelers’ New Flagship Will Serve Next-Gen Luxury ShoppersFourth-generation CEO Lilly Mullen wants to emphasize experience, connection, and personalized service.
Events & AwardsMay 21, 2026
JA Announces Nina Pugliese Memorial ScholarshipThe new award, created in partnership with Henne Jewelers, honors the late designer’s legacy through supporting jewelry education.
SourcingMay 21, 2026
Botswana, Angola Join WFDBThe addition of the diamond-producing countries as nation affiliated members broadens the federation’s global representation, WFDB said.
CrimeMay 20, 2026
NYPD Warns of Jewelry Swap Scams Targeting SeniorsThe NYPD is warning elderly New Yorkers to keep their jewelry hidden when walking outside to avoid being a target.
IndependentsMay 20, 2026
Adornment & Theory’s New Store Feels Like Home Designer Viviana Langhoff has realized her dream of owning a space for her Chicago jewelry store that looks and feels like her brand.
Events & AwardsMay 20, 2026
Here Is Couture’s 2026 Education Lineup The sessions will run from Friday, May 29, to Sunday, May 31, with one being a live taping of an episode of Couture’s podcast.
Lab-GrownMay 20, 2026
Savannah Friedkin Jewelry Names New CEOFormer Stephanie Gottlieb Fine Jewelry executive Morgan P. Richardson is joining the lab-grown diamond jewelry brand.
WatchesMay 19, 2026
Here’s the AP x Swatch Pocket Watch That Caused PandemoniumThe $400 pocket watch is a blend of Audemars Piguet’s iconic eight-sided Royal Oak and Swatch’s unserious Pop watches from the ‘80s.
CollectionsMay 19, 2026
Chris Ploof’s New Collection Makes an Ancient Metal ModernWith gold prices on the rise, the “Modern Electrum” collection uses an alternative, non-tarnishing metal alloy composed of gold and silver.
IndependentsMay 19, 2026
Ellen and Michael Fruchtman Retire, Sell Marketing Agency Fruchtman Marketing has new owners, Erin Moyer-Carballea and Manuel Carballea, and will relocate to Miami.
ColumnistsMay 19, 2026
Peter Smith: The (Mostly) Immutable Sales TruthsIn a column for the 2026 State of the Majors issue, Smith lists 10 time-tested principles about sales that still ring true.
ColumnistsMay 18, 2026
Edahn Golan: What a K-Shaped Economy Means for Fine JewelryIn a column for the 2026 State of the Majors issue, Golan spells out how the growing economic divide in the U.S. is reshaping the market.
CollectionsMay 18, 2026
Foundrae’s New Collection Taps Into JoyThe “Limitless Expansion of Joy and Hope” collection evokes summer through colored gemstones and motifs of butterflies and florals.
