Attrition · Voluntary

Voluntary Turnover (Quits) Rate Benchmarks

All benchmarks/Voluntary Turnover Benchmark
Attrition · current reference
2%

Annual average quits rate · Total, US

Evidence chain
Vintage2025 annual average
PublisherU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
DatasetJOLTS Table 22

Definition: sum of the 12 monthly CES employment levels in the same industry/region; numerator: sum of the 12 monthly quits levels (JOLTS annual average rate)

Data vintage: 2025 annual average·Retrieved 2026-10-13
Measure your own workforce
Internal Annual Voluntary Turnover Calculator

An internal annual indicator for your selected workforce and year. No automatic comparison with the BLS annual-average monthly rates below.

Internal Annual Voluntary Turnover Calculator

Included voluntary exit events over 12 months / mean of the 12 monthly employee counts for the same workforce × 100.

Use the same workforce and dates in both inputs. A rate above 100% is possible when exit events exceed average staffing; this is not a percentage of unique people.

Benchmark Table
Annual Average Quits Rate by Industry & Region

2025 annual average. BLS JOLTS Table 22, not seasonally adjusted. Quits are voluntary-initiated separations as reported by employers.

SegmentValueVintage
Total, US2%2025 annual average
Manufacturing, US1.4%2025 annual average
Retail trade, US2.6%2025 annual average
Health care and social assistance, US2%2025 annual average
Accommodation & food services, US4.2%2025 annual average
Information, US1.3%2025 annual average
Financial activities, US1.4%2025 annual average
South region, US2.2%2025 annual average
Northeast region, US1.6%2025 annual average

Denominator: sum of the 12 monthly CES employment levels in the same industry/region; numerator: sum of the 12 monthly quits levels (JOLTS annual average rate)

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, JOLTS (Table 22)
Contrast Table
Annual Average Layoffs & Discharges Rate (Involuntary)

2025 annual average. BLS JOLTS Table 24. Shown as contrast — not a voluntary-turnover figure.

SegmentValueVintage
Total, US1.1%2025 annual average
Construction, US2.1%2025 annual average
Manufacturing, US0.9%2025 annual average
Information, US1.3%2025 annual average
Professional & business services, US2%2025 annual average
Arts, entertainment & recreation, US3.8%2025 annual average

Denominator: sum of the 12 monthly CES employment levels in the same industry/region; numerator: sum of the 12 monthly layoffs and discharges levels (JOLTS annual average rate)

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, JOLTS (Table 24)
Definition traps
Read this before you compare numbers

Fixed methodology boxes — see /methodology for the full policy.

F1 · Definition trap
Annual average monthly rate ≠ internal annual turnover
BLS JOLTS annual-average rates divide the sum of the 12 monthly exit levels by the sum of the 12 monthly CES employment levels, then multiply by 100. This is a ratio of sums, not a simple arithmetic mean of monthly rates. An internal annual indicator using annual exit events divided by average monthly staffing is a different measure. Do not compare that internal annual percentage directly with the BLS figures.
F2 · Definition trap
Define which exits you count
JOLTS total separations include quits, layoffs and discharges, and other separations. Quits are voluntary separations initiated by employees, excluding retirements and transfers to other locations. BLS classifies those retirements and transfers as other separations. Specify which categories your internal total or voluntary-turnover measure includes before comparing definitions.

This calculator uses your own included voluntary exit events. BLS quits exclude retirements and transfers to other locations. Keep those categories separate if you want to assess the national quits definition. See the turnover page for the measurement workflow.

Turnover measurement workflow
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Are BLS “quits” the same as voluntary turnover?
BLS quits are voluntary employee-initiated separations excluding retirements and transfers to other locations. Your internal voluntary-turnover definition may include different categories. Match the definition explicitly; see F2.
What's the difference between the quits table and the layoffs table on this page?
The quits table (BLS JOLTS Table 22) is the voluntary-side proxy. The layoffs and discharges table (Table 24) is shown as contrast — the involuntary side. They are never combined into one “turnover” figure.
What is the current US quits rate?
2.0%, 2025 annual average, Total, BLS JOLTS Table 22.
How is the quits rate calculated?
The BLS benchmark uses the sum of twelve monthly quits levels divided by the sum of twelve monthly CES employment levels, multiplied by 100. The calculator shows your separate internal annual voluntary exit-event indicator, without a national comparison.
Which source and vintage does this page show?
The page identifies the BLS JOLTS source and data vintage alongside the figures.