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Available Now: 10th Annual Report by Work Institute

2026 Retention Report

Employee Turnover Insights & Trends from over 120,000 Employee Interviews

The data leaders use to reduce turnover and improve workforce performance in 2026
Annual Retention Reports

Download the 2026 Report Today

2026 Retention Cover Page
Why This Matters Now

In 2026, avoiding turnover is not enough.

Organizations must understand the causes, measure what matters, and take strategic action that drives measurable impact. Without clarity, leaders risk investing in symptoms not solutions.

The challenge is not a lack of data. It is understanding which data matters, what has changed, and where leaders can realistically influence retention and engagement outcomes.

The 2026 Retention Report helps leaders move beyond assumptions and focus on the real drivers of employee turnover so they can prioritize the actions that reduce the costs of unwanted turnover and the costs of disengagement.

Complete to Download
2026 Retention Report

What You'll Learn

This report is designed to help leaders translate workforce data into action. Inside, you’ll learn:

  • The primary reasons employees left in 2025 and how leaders can address them in 2026
  • Which turnover drivers organizations can control and which narratives hold leaders back
  • How manager behavior directly influences retention outcomes and what to measure first
  • Where organizations overspend on retention efforts that don't address root causes
  • Practical and prioritized steps leaders can take immediately to improve retention without generic solutions
2026 Retention Report

Who Should Download

This report is designed to help leaders translate workforce data into action. Inside, you’ll learn:

  • HR and People Leaders working to reduce avoidable turnover and strengthen workforce stability
  • Executives accountable for organizational performance, cost control, and long-term organizational strategy
  • Managers seeking practical insight into how leadership behaviors influence employee retention and engagement
  • Organizations experiencing persistent or preventable turnover and ready to implement data-driven, actionable solutions
Find additional Work Institute resources like our webcasts, annual Retention Reports, and articles at our website.
Retention & Engagement Resources
Apply this Data to Your Organization

How to Utilize the Retention Report

Want help applying this data to your organization? Schedule a conversation with Work Institute to explore how these insights can support your retention and engagement strategy to lower to high costs of unwanted attrition.

Looking to go deeper?

  • Educate your team: Reports are available for team and organizational use
  • Bring data to your audience: Schedule Work Institute to present this research to your organization or professional association
  • Apply the insights: Meet with Work Institute to discuss how these findings relate to your workforce
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