M&L Research
M&L Research is a Seattle-based, privately-held employment research company founded in 1985 that operates five premium niche JobFinder subscription sites, seven free employment sites, and publishes The Corporate Board governance magazine for corporate directors and senior executives.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1985
- HeadquartersSeattle, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What M&L Research does
M&L Research, Inc. is a Seattle-based, privately-held company founded in 1985 that specializes in independent employment research distributed through a portfolio of niche vertical employment websites and, since 2024, a corporate governance magazine. The company's core product surface consists of five premium subscription employment websites (AirlineJobFinder, AlaskaJobFinder, CruiseJobFinder, OilJobFinder, SportsCareerFinder) focused on aviation, Alaska fishing, cruise/yacht/land-tour, oil and gas, and sports respectively, plus seven free employment websites (100kJobFinder, InternshipFinder, SummerJobFinder, MysteryShopperJobFinder, NursingJobFinder, TruckingJobFinder, VideoGameJobFinder) covering categories such as six-figure careers, internships, summer roles, mystery shopping, healthcare, trucking, and video games. In 2024 the company expanded into B2B corporate governance publishing by taking over operations for The Corporate Board, a 32-page bi-monthly magazine distributed to chairmen, CEOs, and corporate directors at hundreds of large U.S. and international corporations.
The company's stated research methodology relies on input from a network of over 600 industry insiders, experts, and workers using proprietary "noninvasive" interview techniques, with research output packaged as detailed employer profiles, industry reports, and job postings. The Seattle headquarters at 4701 SW Admiral Way is positioned within a few miles of major Alaska fishing and cruise line corporate offices, providing the company with geographic proximity to key industry sources. Technology platform architecture, AI/ML capabilities, APIs, and integration details are not disclosed in available materials.
M&L Research generates revenue through three streams: (i) premium subscription memberships on the five paid JobFinder sites (one disclosed price point: $3.95 for a five-day AlaskaJobFinder membership), (ii) freemium access to free employment sites with a centralized JobCenter search, and (iii) corporate governance magazine distribution through The Corporate Board to organizations including AIG, Kelly Services, Capital One Services, Lifetime Healthcare, and Verizon. Two distinct go-to-market motions are evident: a product-led growth motion for consumer job seekers who self-serve on niche employment platforms, and a corporate distribution motion for governance magazine recipients at large enterprises. The company is closely-held with no public disclosures of revenue, headcount, funding, or financial statements; it holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and operates with no disclosed funding rounds, indicating a stable, bootstrapped, founder-led capital structure.
M&L Research firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- M&L Research
- Legal name
- M&L Research, Inc.
- Website
- https://mlresearch.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1985
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- M&L Research is a Seattle-based, privately-held employment research company founded in 1985 that operates five premium niche JobFinder subscription sites, seven free employment sites, and publishes The Corporate Board governance magazine for corporate directors and senior executives.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
M&L Research industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Employment Research Services
- NAICS
- Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (54191), Periodical Publishers (51312)
- SIC
- Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Industry & Sector Research (Syndicated/Custom) (BPAHALAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- B2B / Industrial Market Research (MPAAALAA), Syndicated Market Research (Panels, Omnibus, Tracker Studies) (MPAAALAB)
Keywords
Where M&L Research is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Seattle
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
M&L Research business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Premium JobFinder Website Memberships: Subscription-based memberships for premium niche employment websites (AirlineJobFinder, AlaskaJobFinder, CruiseJobFinder, OilJobFinder, SportsCareerFinder) providing detailed industry content, employer profiles, job postings, and insider strategies.
- Free Employment Websites: Free employment websites with detailed industry background content, job options, and employer profiles, with JobCenter for searching job opportunities.
- The Corporate Board Magazine Publishing: In 2024, M&L Research took over publishing operations for The Corporate Board - a 32-page, bi-monthly corporate governance magazine distributed to corporate directors and senior executive officers. Revenue likely from subscriptions and corporate distribution.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Pay-as-you-go | AlaskaJobFinder 5-Day Membership |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
M&L Research product offering
Product offeringCore offering
M&L Research provides independent employment research and career information for niche industries through premium membership-based employment websites (AirlineJobFinder, AlaskaJobFinder, CruiseJobFinder, OilJobFinder, SportsCareerFinder) and several free employment websites, complemented by The Corporate Board bi-monthly corporate governance magazine distributed to corporate directors and senior executives. The company also delivers commissioned employment and economic research reports to corporate clients, trade organizations, and government agencies.
Product overview
M&L Research operates a portfolio of niche employment research websites alongside The Corporate Board magazine. The company operates five premium paid membership employment websites (AirlineJobFinder, AlaskaJobFinder, CruiseJobFinder, OilJobFinder, and SportsCareerFinder) focused on specific industry verticals, along with multiple free employment websites (100kJobFinder, InternshipFinder, SummerJobFinder, MysteryShopperJobFinder, NursingJobFinder, TruckingJobFinder, VideoGameJobFinder). In 2024, M&L Research also took over publishing operations for The Corporate Board, a leading corporate governance magazine serving Fortune 1000 corporate directors and senior executives. Founded in 1985 and based in Seattle, the company provides independent employment research to retail clients, corporate clients, and government agencies using a blend of technology and grassroots research methodologies.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- AirlineJobFinder: Premium employment website for airline and aviation industry jobs
- AlaskaJobFinder
- CruiseJobFinder
- OilJobFinder
- SportsCareerFinder
- 100kJobFinder
- InternshipFinder
- SummerJobFinder
- MysteryShopperJobFinder
- The Corporate Board
Products and services
- AirlineJobFinder
Companies that use M&L Research
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
M&L Research technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
M&L Research partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators7 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights5 records
M&L Research competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Hcareers: Hcareers is the leading niche job board for hospitality and hotel industry employment, directly comparable to M&L Research's CruiseJobFinder (which covers cruise ships and beach resorts) on the hospitality-adjacent vertical.
- ZipRecruiter: ZipRecruiter operates a subscription-driven job matching platform serving SMB and enterprise employers. It is directly comparable to M&L Research's premium JobFinder membership model and competes for the same employer-side sponsorship revenue.
- Nurse.com: Nurse.com is the leading niche healthcare and nursing employment platform, directly comparable to M&L Research's NursingJobFinder free site. Both companies focus on vertical specialty job listings with content and educational resources.
- CareerBuilder: CareerBuilder is a legacy horizontal job board with employer branding and research content. It competes with M&L Research for both job seekers and corporate research clients across multiple verticals.
- Glassdoor: Glassdoor combines job listings with company reviews and employer research. It is directly comparable to M&L Research's employment-research-plus-job-listings product model and overlaps on the 'research before you apply' use case.
- Boardroom Insiders: Boardroom Insiders publishes premium content on corporate executives and board members, paralleling The Corporate Board magazine's audience of Fortune 1000 directors and senior executive officers.
- Rigzone: Rigzone is the leading niche job board for oil and gas industry employment, a direct competitor to M&L Research's OilJobFinder site. Both companies focus on energy sector employment research and employer profiles.
- HigherEdJobs: HigherEdJobs is a niche vertical job board serving higher education employment, comparable in model to M&L Research's SportsCareerFinder (which covers collegiate athletics) and SportsJobFinder-type verticals. Both companies operate vertical job boards serving specialized professional categories.
Broad incumbents
- Indeed: Indeed is the largest global horizontal job search platform and serves as the dominant incumbent that M&L Research's vertical sites compete against. It overlaps with M&L Research on all premium verticals (aviation, hospitality/cruise, oil & gas, sports) but at a generalist level.
- LinkedIn (Microsoft): LinkedIn is the dominant professional network with integrated job listings and serves as a broad incumbent competing for both job seekers and corporate recruiting budgets. It overlaps with M&L Research's employment research function and corporate governance audience overlap with The Corporate Board.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
M&L Research compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
M&L Research financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
M&L Research leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
M&L Research funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
M&L Research M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about M&L Research
What does M&L Research do?
M&L Research provides independent employment research and career information for niche industries through premium membership-based employment websites (AirlineJobFinder, AlaskaJobFinder, CruiseJobFinder, OilJobFinder, SportsCareerFinder) and several free employment websites, complemented by The Corporate Board bi-monthly corporate governance magazine distributed to corporate directors and senior executives. The company also delivers commissioned employment and economic research reports to corporate clients, trade organizations, and government agencies.
Is M&L Research a public or private company?
M&L Research is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was M&L Research founded?
M&L Research was founded in 1985.
Where is M&L Research based?
M&L Research is headquartered in Seattle, United States, in the North America region.
How does M&L Research make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Premium JobFinder Website Memberships are the primary driver. The others are free Employment Websites and the Corporate Board Magazine Publishing.
Who are M&L Research's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Hcareers, ZipRecruiter, Nurse.com, CareerBuilder, Glassdoor, Boardroom Insiders, Rigzone and HigherEdJobs. Broad incumbents are Indeed and LinkedIn (Microsoft).
Does M&L Research have an API?
No public API is recorded for M&L Research.
What industry is M&L Research in?
M&L Research's product category is Employment Research Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHALAE, Industry & Sector Research (Syndicated/Custom), with a secondary code of MPAAALAA, B2B / Industrial Market Research. Its NAICS code is 54191 and its SIC code is 2741.