What is a Good Retention Rate for Employees?
To gain insights into what makes a good employee retention rate, we’ve gathered ten expert opinions from CEOs and directors. From achieving 85% retention through job satisfaction to 90% retention as beneficial for organizational stability, these leaders share their benchmarks and strategies for maintaining a stable and satisfied workforce.
- 85% Retention Through Job Satisfaction
- 90% Retention and Understanding Turnover
- 90%+ with a Shared Growth Mindset
- 92% Retention to target in Small Businesses
- 90% Retention to Combat Burnout in Content Writing
- 95% Retention as the Goal for Small Businesses
- 90% but Varies with Company Size
- 70% Retention as Realistic for Fresh Graduate Hires
- 85% Retention as a Benchmark for Stability
- 90% Retention as Beneficial for Organizational Stability
85% Retention Through Job Satisfaction
In the realm of digital marketing, where the landscape is ever-evolving, retaining skilled professionals is of utmost importance. For a firm like Ignited Results, a retention rate surpassing 85% is commendable.
Such a figure signifies more than just job satisfaction; it reflects a harmonious blend of professional growth, acknowledgment of contributions, and a nurturing work environment. It’s an affirmation that the organization is not merely a place of employment but a space where aspirations are realized and talents are honed.
Jon James
CEO, Ignited Results
90% Retention and Understanding Turnover
Many people say 90% is a good retention rate, and something in that range is a good aim. However, one caveat to consider is that retention rates only tell part of the story. If trouble is encountered in reaching that ideal percent, implementing a qualitative exit survey to evaluate the reasons workers are moving on could be beneficial.
It might be found that it’s simply the nature of the particular industry, meaning any adjustments to the strategy would be a waste of time. Conversely, the opposite might be true. The bottom line is to avoid focusing on retention rates alone. Get the full story first, then deal with the numbers.
Linn Atiyeh
CEO, Bemana
90%+ with a Shared Growth Mindset
As a small startup, we value our employees and collaborators, which has helped us increase the retention rate to over 90%. We start working only with individuals who are at the top of their field and who share our growth mindset. This has allowed us to create a team of experts who work amazingly well together and push our company forward.
A high retention rate allows us to speed ahead with our products and company growth, instead of trying to find new talent every few months, teach them, and then repeat the process.
Jean Smart
Founder and CEO, Penelope
92% Retention to Target in Small Businesses
Anything above 92% is the target. At the moment, 90% is considered best in class, but this only applies to massive companies that struggle with turnover due to their sheer size.
For an SME, like my own company, I like to keep that number a bit higher as losing one person from a team of five rather than a team of fifty can really impact business and team cohesion. It really puts the emphasis on employee-retention strategies and development.
Dragos Badea
CEO, Yarooms
90% Retention to Combat Burnout in Content Writing
While we strive to keep the retention rate around 90%, it is sometimes quite difficult in the industry we are in. We are working with content writers who often get tired of writing and burn out if their workload is not managed properly.
Most content agencies see about a 50% retention rate; however, there are a few methods we have implemented to combat this. Apart from great compensation, all our team members receive 38 days of paid time off so they can decompress and get the creative juices flowing when they need some time to recuperate.
Gordana Sretenovic
Co-Founder, Workello ATS
95% Retention as the Goal for Small Businesses
On a year-on-year basis, a retention rate of about 95% is good for a business as small as my current one. I tend to run a pretty lean ship, so losing an employee stings quite a bit and can cost us momentum as we find a replacement.
I see this number shrinking as we get bigger, as around 90% is considered good in most mid-sized and larger companies. However, as a smaller SME, I find that keeping retention high is a top priority.
Kate Kandefer
CEO, SEOwind
90% but Varies with Company Size
Generally speaking, anything above 90% I’d consider pretty good, but there is a caveat to this. It really depends on the type of company you have and at what stage of the company lifecycle you are. Losing 10% of my team in a small start-up, for example, would be devastating and something to avoid at all costs. Whereas, if I had hundreds of employees, then 90% retention is actually quite good.
Onno Halsema
CEO, Contentoo
70% Retention as Realistic for Fresh Graduate Hires
Since we mostly hire fresh graduates for our company, a 70% employee retention rate is pretty good for our company. We have employees who are all young and trying to build their careers, so they are always hoping for new and better opportunities.
This is why we aim to keep our employee retention rate at 70%, knowing that our young, energetic, career-oriented employees will not stay with us for long. We are also really glad to be working with new employees every year because they bring a fresh breeze into the company with their fresh perspectives and creative ideas, which help us grow even better.
Ayman Zaidi
CEO and Marketing Expert, BackToHan
85% Retention as a Benchmark for Stability
A good retention rate for employees can vary by industry, job role, and organization size. However, in general, a retention rate of around 85% or higher is often considered a benchmark for a healthy and stable workforce. This means that 85% or more of your employees choose to stay with the company over a specified period, typically a year.
Kristina Ramos
Reverse Recruiter, Find My Profession
90% Retention as Beneficial for Organizational Stability
Maintaining a retention rate of 90 percent or higher is undeniably advantageous for any organization. It reflects a workplace that resonates with its employees, catering to their needs and aspirations. It translates into a workforce that is deeply committed and engaged. Beyond this, high retention is a financial boon, as it curtails the expensive cycle of hiring and training new staff.
In essence, it safeguards the company’s bottom line. Long-term employees tend to possess valuable institutional knowledge, which can be harnessed for innovation and problem-solving. A consistent staff can enhance productivity and efficiency as team members become more adept at collaborating over time.
Travis Willis
Director of Customer Success, Aspire
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