Attrition Rate Calculator
Calculate your employee attrition rate and retention rate for any period. Compare against industry benchmarks and optionally track voluntary vs involuntary splits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Attrition specifically refers to employees leaving without being replaced — the workforce shrinks. Turnover is broader: it includes all separations (whether replaced or not) and focuses on the rate of churn. A company experiencing attrition may be deliberately downsizing, while high turnover in a stable-headcount company means constant replacement hiring.
Attrition Rate = (Employees Who Left ÷ Average Headcount) × 100. Average Headcount = (Employees at Start + Employees at End) ÷ 2. For periods shorter than a year, multiply by (12 ÷ months) to annualize the rate for meaningful comparisons.
Attrition rates vary significantly by industry. Technology: ~13%, Healthcare: ~22%, Retail: ~60%, Hospitality: ~70–80%, Finance: ~18%, Manufacturing: ~30%. The overall US average is around 57% annually including all industries, but knowledge-work sectors typically aim for under 15%.
Retention Rate = 100% − Attrition Rate, calculated for a given period. A 15% annual attrition rate equals an 85% retention rate. Most HR professionals consider 90%+ retention rate a good benchmark for professional services and technology companies.
Key levers include: competitive compensation benchmarked annually, clear promotion criteria and career paths, manager quality (invest in training), flexible work arrangements, employee recognition programs, psychological safety culture, stay interviews (not just exit interviews), and acting quickly on engagement survey results.
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