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12 Employee Retention Statistics You Cannot Miss in 2026

HR Analytics

6 minutes

December 1, 2025

Written by Yağmur Erge

Employee retention statistics are more than just numbers. They provide important information about how well a company retains its employees—in other words, the kind of work environment it creates for employees.

However, what are employee retention statistics, and how can these statistics be used to boost productivity?

This blog content will explore the importance of employee retention statistics, how companies measure employee retention stats, and employee retention statistics in 2026.

Why Do Employee Retention Statistics Matter?

Employee retention is an organizational objective that involves retaining successful and talented employees while reducing the turnover rate by creating a positive working environment that encourages engagement. ​

Employee retention statistics play a crucial role in various aspects of business, as they are valuable for understanding both the opportunities the company offers its employees and its market position.

Statistics for employee retention show workforce trends, employee satisfaction levels, and potential development opportunities. Analyzing these retention data can also help to generate strategies for increasing employee engagement and reducing turnover rate.

How Do Companies Measure Employee Retention?

For measuring employee retention, organizations track both voluntary and involuntary turnover, with a particular emphasis on the first 90 days and the first year, to identify onboarding or role-fit concerns. They also keep track of regretted losses, internal mobility, well-being, engagement, and early behavioral indicators of disengagement.

AI-driven analytics, pulse surveys, and stay interviews help businesses identify high-value employees who are at risk of leaving, enabling them to enhance flexibility, leadership, and career development, ultimately increasing commitment rather than attendance.

Employee Retention Statistics 2026

Stats on employee retention have become increasingly crucial in recent years, as competition for talent retention has intensified. Here are the employee retention stats in 2026 that will help companies increase their success in the competitive business world:

1. 71% of employees would be less likely to quit their jobs if they were recognized more often

Nectar's employee retention survey states that employees are likely to leave their jobs if they do not feel appreciated. Employees who receive regular recognition feel valued and involved in their work. Having a sense of worth can boost employee motivation and lower turnover in the long run.

2. 52% of employees in the United States are keeping an eye out for new opportunities or actively seeking them

According to Gallup's survey, more than half of employees are thinking about quitting their current jobs. This indicates that the danger of staff turnover as reported by employees is at its greatest level since 2015. Therefore, employers need to improve their corporate culture and benefits to keep valuable employees.

3. 35% of workers, particularly Gen Z and Millennials, are considering leaving, making it difficult for employers to retain talent

According to the EY, over one-third (35%) of employees are prone to leave their jobs in the next 12 months, with Gen Z (38%) and millennials (37%) being the most likely to do so. Attracting and retaining talent is a major challenge for businesses worldwide.

4. Internal mobility improves employee retention

LinkedIn Workplace Learning Report indicates that employees who have moved internally inside an organization are 75% likely to stay, while those who have not are only 56%.

5. A bad manager would cause nearly seven out of ten United States employees to leave their jobs

According to the results of LinkedIn's Workforce Confidence survey, seven out of ten U.S. employees said they would quit a job if they had a bad manager. Younger workers are especially affected by this opinion; compared to 68% of Gen Xers and 61% of baby boomers, 75% of Gen Z employees and 77% of millennials believe a bad boss would motivate them to look for a new job.

6. Work-life balance and personal well-being are cited as the top factors for choosing a new job by 59%

Gallup's nationally representative study of over 10,000 employees in the United States reveals the four most essential considerations when looking for a new job. Work-life balance and personal well-being are the most important factors, according to 59% of respondents.

7. Companies that promote career development are 67% confident in their capacity to keep qualified employees

According to LinkedIn's Workplace Learning Report 2025, companies that promote career development have 67% confidence in their ability to keep qualified employees. This confidence level is only 50% among all other companies, indicating a significant difference. This report shows that effective career development activities directly enhance an organization's ability to retain talented individuals.

8. Only 21% of employees are engaged globally, resulting in massive economic losses

The State of the Global Workplace report states that in 2024, the cost of disengagement to the global economy was $438 billion. Additionally, global employee engagement dropped to 21%, a two-point decrease from the prior year. Highly engaged teams have a quantifiable, positive influence on organizational performance, and engaged employees regularly produce better business outcomes than disengaged ones.

9. Intent to stay among EMEA employees falls to 62% by 2025

Qualtrics 2025 Employee Experience Trends Report shows that in EMEA, the intent to stay has declined from 66% in 2024 to 62% in 2025. This implies that fewer employees say they intend to stay with the organization. According to the report, this reduction may be due to economic pressures or company practices that do not suit the demands of employees.

10. Globally, there is a high risk of retention as engagement drops to 21% while best-practice organizations reach 70%

According to Gallup, worldwide engagement is barely 21% in 2024, creating a high retention risk for businesses. On the other hand, best-practice organizations achieve 70% in 2023 and 2024, giving them a significant employee retention advantage.

11. Retention efforts are undermined by the career growth gap

According to the Zipdo Education Report 2025, just 30% of employees believe they have a clear career path, despite the fact that 75% of HR professionals prioritize retention and that recognition can boost loyalty by more than 50%. This disparity suggests that many businesses are overlooking a crucial opportunity to enhance employee retention.

12. 60% Attrition rate in the hospitality industry

Zipdo Education Report 2025 states that the employee attrition rate in the hospitality industry is high at 60%. While seasoned employees over 55 often stay in their positions longer, younger individuals frequently switch occupations. This demonstrates the necessity of distinct retention tactics for various age groups and career stages.

Conclusion

In this blog, we have discussed why employee retention statistics matter, how companies measure retention, and 12 key employee retention statistics you cannot afford to miss.

While this HR content is helpful for understanding employee retention trends, there is much more to explore. So, whether you are an employer, an HR professional, or just a curious reader, you can visit Hirex and learn more about the new HR!