First-Year Turnover Drops 49% as Employ Inc. Flags 'Great Stay' Trend

Event summary

  • First-year turnover dropped 48.9% from 23.7% in 2024 to 12.1% in 2025, per Employ Inc.'s 2026 Hiring Benchmarks Report.
  • Data drawn from 6,640 customers across Jobvite, Lever, and JazzHR platforms.
  • Employ Inc. attributes the shift to both internal organizational improvements and external market pressures.
  • Webinar scheduled for March 4, 2026, to discuss findings and actionable insights.

The big picture

Employ Inc.'s findings align with broader labor market data showing flat unemployment and quit rates, suggesting a structural shift in employee retention. The decline in first-year turnover highlights the growing emphasis on effective onboarding and retention strategies as companies navigate cyclical hiring trends. This trend could signal a long-term shift in how organizations approach talent management, particularly as economic conditions remain unpredictable.

What we're watching

Sustainability of Trend
Whether the 'Great Stay' trend can be sustained amid potential economic volatility.
Onboarding Efficiency
How organizations will further optimize onboarding to maintain low turnover rates.
Market Adaptation
The pace at which HR strategies evolve to address both internal and external labor market dynamics.