New Turnover Survey Shows Impact of Retirements; High Turnover in New Employees

Waukesha, WI, February 24, 2025—A new survey from MRA—The Management Association shows that while employers are reporting reduced turnover year over year, organizations are seeing a higher rate of loss among the most experienced executives. Of executives leaving their organizations, 44 percent had been with their employer for 10 years or more.

“We’re seeing a wave of retirements across the board,” says MRA’s Surveys Manager Brittany Rittershaus. “Regardless of tenure at their organization, retirement was the top reason for turnover for executives. But we also see a wave of retirements in other roles as well, especially production, maintenance, service, and trades roles, where 45 percent of exiting employees cited retirement as their reason for leaving.”

This wave of retirements, especially among long-tenured employees, could present a challenge to employers losing valuable knowledge and skills. When asked what actions they will take to address employee turnover, 52 percent of employers reported they will be investing in management training skills, a 15 percent increase from the 2024 Turnover Survey.

“Training in leadership, project management, critical thinking, and business skills isn’t just about skill-building. When employers invest in continuous learning, they’re closing skills gaps, reducing turnover, and building their next generation of leaders,” says Kate Walker, vice president of Learning & Development at MRA. “That creates a resilient, adaptable workforce positioned for long-term success.”

Loss of long-term employees isn’t the only challenge facing employers this year. Across all types of roles, the highest rate of turnover (38 percent) was for employees with less than one year at an organization. In production, maintenance, services, and trades roles, 76 percent of turnover was among employees who had been with the organization for two years or less.

Kathy Seidel, manager of Recruiting Services at MRA, says, “We’re no longer in the era where employees spend their entire career with one organization, but that doesn’t mean rapid turnover is something employers need to accept. Strong recruiting and onboarding practices are crucial for setting up a new employee for success. With many opportunities on the market, employees who don’t connect with your organization will quickly move on.”

According to the survey, employers are looking for ways to improve the new hire experience. Fifty-eight percent of employers plan to improve orientations/on-boarding, while 39 percent plan to improve their talent acquisition practices – a 14 percent increase from last year.

“We’re seeing a lot of movement when it comes to how employers are responding to turnover in their organizations,” says Rittershaus. “From new hire practices to career and succession planning, employers are making changes that emphasize retention and employee development.”

For more on the Turnover Survey, visit https://mymra.org/turnover2025.

About the Turnover Survey: MRA’s annual Turnover Survey has been examining the rate and reasons for turnover since 2010. Since 1901, MRA has produced high-quality, trusted surveys that help provide confidence of data-driven decisions within member organizations. Our team of professionals, with expertise in survey design, statistical analysis, compensation, and market research, provides accuracy and insights that help your organization succeed.

About MRA: For over 120 years, MRA has focused on delivering best-in-class HR services customized to meet your business needs. Through our proven approach to HR excellence, we focus on delivering unmatched expertise and value to businesses —from small- to medium-sized organizations to global corporations. As the largest employer association in the nation, MRA helps its members thrive by offering comprehensive HR services, talent management, learning and development opportunities, and total rewards planning. To learn more about MRA, visit www.mranet.org.

Media Contact:
Lesley Weiss, Marketing Director
Lesley.Weiss@mranet.org | 262.696.3334