Before we collectively bid farewell to this economically tumultuous year, let's reflect on some of the good aspects of 2009. Like these "best of" lists that impact the working world.

 

Fortune's Best 100 Companies to Work For

 

The big news on the list this year was that Google lost its spot at number 1, replaced by NetApp. Here are the list's top 5 best companies to work for:

 

1.    NetApp

2.    Edward Jones

3.    Boston Consulting

4.    Google

5.    Wegmans

 

Best Jobs in America

 

This is Money and Payscale.com's list of the top jobs in America based on pay and projected job growth over the next 10 years. Sadly for me, none of the top 50 careers have to do with blogging or Web content, but I still love what I do…. Here are the top 5:

 

1.    Systems engineer

2.    Physician assistant

3.    College professor

4.    Nurse practitioner

5.    Information technology project manager

 

Best Places to Launch a Career

 

BusinessWeek's list looks at the best employers for entry-level workers, based on surveys of career services directors, employers and undergrads. Once again, here is the top 5:

 

1.    Deloitte

2.    Ernst & Young

3.    PricewaterhouseCoopers

4.    KPMG

5.    US State Department

 

The Best Places for Businesses and Careers

 

This list comes from Forbes and examines the cost of doing business, cost of living, crime rates, projected income, job growth and more. (They also have a list of the best small places for businesses and careers if you're not looking to live in a bigger metropolitan area.)

 

1.    Raleigh, North Carolina

2.    Fort Collins, Colorado

3.    Durham, North Carolina

4.    Fayetteville, Arizona

5.    Lincoln, Nebraska

 

25 Best Places to Retire

 

And if you've had enough of the working life -- and more importantly, have the luxury not to work, Money magazine offers you this list, too. The top 5:

 

1.    Port Charlotte, Florida

2.    Palm Springs, California

3.    Traverse City, Michigan

4.    Pinehurst, North Carolina

5.    Surprise, Arizona

 

Working Mother's 100 Best Companies

 

Working Mother chooses its list of best companies based on employers' family-friendliness. Each company offers its own brand of perks and flexibilities and the magazine does not rank them, so take a look at the list in its entirety as well as the Hall of Fame. It just didn't seem right to single out a few.

 

Do you have any best of lists of your own this year? Go ahead and share them on our blog.