FORTUNE announced today that Paychex ranked number 39 on the 12th annual “100 Best Companies to Work For” list, up from number 51 last year. Paychex, a leading provider of payroll and human resource services, also appeared on the 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, and 2008 lists. This year’s full list and related stories appear in the February 2 issue of FORTUNE, available on newsstands on Monday, January 26 and now at www.FORTUNE.com/bestcompanies.

“We’re pleased and proud to be recognized as one of the best places to work in America again this year, and we thank our employees for the vote of confidence,” said Paychex president and CEO Jonathan J. Judge. “Our people do a terrific job every day caring for their clients, their communities, and each other – and these values drive a culture of excellence here at Paychex that helps us deliver outstanding service to our clients.”

A driving factor for the companies on this year’s list is that they excel at creating jobs. Of the 100 companies on the 2009 list, 73 – including Paychex – are currently hiring. In his FORTUNE.com blog, managing editor Andy Serwer writes, “No matter what happens with the economy, the demand for talent will remain. Great companies know that super-motivated, happy, world-class employees are an incredible competitive advantage.”

About the “100 Best Companies to Work For” List

To pick the “100 Best Companies to Work For,” FORTUNE works with Robert Levering and Milton Moskowitz of the Great Place to Work® Institute – a global research and consulting firm with offices in 30 countries – to conduct the most extensive employee survey in corporate America. More than 81,000 employees from 353 companies responded to the 57-question survey created by the Institute. Two-thirds of a company’s score is based on the survey, which is sent to a minimum of 400 randomly selected employees. The remaining third is based on a company’s response to the Culture Audit questionnaire, which asks detailed questions about demographics, pay and benefits, and open-ended questions on philosophy, communication, and more. Any company that is at least seven years old with more than 1,000 U.S. employees is eligible to be included on the list.

About Paychex

Paychex, Inc. (NASDAQ:PAYX) is a leading provider of payroll, human resource, and benefits outsourcing solutions for small- to medium-sized businesses. The company offers comprehensive payroll services, including payroll processing, payroll tax administration, and employee pay services, including direct deposit, check signing, and Readychex®. Human resource services include 401(k) plan recordkeeping, health insurance, workers’ compensation administration, section 125 plans, a professional employer organization, time and attendance solutions, and other administrative services for business. Paychex was founded in 1971. With headquarters in Rochester, New York, the company has more than 100 offices and serves over 572,000 payroll clients nationwide. For more information about Paychex and our products, visit www.paychex.com.

About FORTUNE

FORTUNE is a global leader in business journalism with a worldwide circulation of more than 1 million and a readership of nearly 5 million with major franchises including the FORTUNE 500 and the FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For. FORTUNE Live Media extends the brand’s mission into live settings, hosting a wide range of annual conferences, including the FORTUNE Global Forum. FORTUNE magazine’s online home is CNNMoney.com, the most visited and utilized business destination website.