Retensa 10 Year Trends - Employee Turnover Restaurant Industry Report 2016-2026
                     Region: United States
Data Range: 2016 - 
2026
EMPLOYE
ETURNOVER TRENDS
10-Year Industry Tracking Report: 2026 
Edition
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Retensa 10 Year Employee Turnover Trends 
Report
This Turnover Trends report contains the
average monthly and annual Voluntary employee 
turnover rates across major U.S. industries over the past 10 years.
Compare your organization’s turnover rate with its 
industry average. See if your employees quit at a 
higher, similar, or lower rate than your competitors.
The heatmaps herein indicate the monthly turnover rate during the 10-year period 
from 2016 to 2026.
Darker red indicates higher turnover rates compared to same month over past 10 years
Darker green indicates lower turnover rates compared to same month over the past 10 years
Data includes United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (Employment & Unemployment Release), July 
2024
Employee Turnover Rate Definition
EMPLOYE Number of Employees 
E = Separated X 10
TURNOVE Average # of Active employees during 
R RATE Time Period* 0
Aggregate Turnover ≠ Actual Distinguish different “Types” of 
Turnover Turnover:
(Not all turnover is created equal)
1 2 3
• Total employees leaving vs specific turnover types 
(voluntary, involuntary, etc.) Voluntary Involuntary Retirees
• Aggregate turnover rate alone can be misleading
• Target key employee populations to pinpoint 
opportunities & areas of focus, and to provide an 4 5 6
accurate reference for impact Contrac
Transfers Interns
• t Examples: Engineers in London… Millennial Sales Positions
Associates… Women Directors and above… 3+ Year (Are you asking each Type the right questions when 
Tenured Accountants they leave?)
Rwwewm.reteenmsa.bcoemr |: 2 1P2r.5e4c5.i1s2i8o0n P*Triomdeu Pcereiosd  P=r Uesdei Dcatiiloy nAverage or (Active # on 1
st day of period + # on Last day of period) / 2 4
Want to Calculate 
Your Employee CALCULATECOST OF 
TEustimrnateo Yvouer Trot aCl Oorgsantiz?ation & Per- EMPLOYEE
Employee TURNOVER
Turnover Cost Calculation FREE
CLICK 
HERE
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Executive Summary: 2026 Current State
Soon, Voluntary Employee Turnover is likely to:
1. Increase in industries with a higher number of 
foreign-born workers such as hospitality, 
arensdt afuooradn stse,r vhiecaelsthcare, retail
EMPLOYE
2. Decrease in Professional Services and VOELUNTARY
TURNOVE
Technology (Job Hugging) R
Labor trends are currently 
affected by:
1. AI-related downsizing in the tech 
LABO sector
R
TREND 2. Lowest job openings/job postings in 
S five years
3. Increasing number of retirees
DISCLAIMER: Assertions above are based on proprietary analysis, industry trends,4 an.d Finefowrmearti ofno pruebliicglyn a vwailoabrlke eatr t haer trimive.a Rlestensa 
considers multiple economic indicators, consumer trends, and technological advancements to form these opinions, however, makes no 
warranty on the information provided, and no guarantee is expressed or implied.
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Employee turnover Employee Turnover 
Executi rates will change if: will be affected by:
• Revocation of Temporary 
Svuemmar (Other than a significant Protected Status of workers economic event or from Ethiopia, Burma, 
natural disaster)
2y: 02 • Job growth continues to and South Sudan decline (previously revoked countries impacts ran its • Home sales / new course)
home
building continues •
6 • Fdoerceliingen National Employee Turnover is Increase in business visa process rate for South deportation expands to not Korean workersover 100k people per immediately affected 
month •bMyo:rtgage rate changes • Changes to H1B Visa 
Trend (except in finance & approvals that insurance, real estate, prioritize higher skilled 
and construction, which and higher paid foreign 
DISCLAIMEsR: Assertions above are based on have a direct positive 
workers
proprietary analysis, industry trends, and correlation to turnover)
publicly available information at the time. Retensa • Weakened new car • AI integration in sectors 
considers multiple economic indicators, consumer 
trends, and technological advancements to form these sales knowledge transactions 
opinions, however, makes no warranty on the occur (call centers, help 
information provided, and no guarantee is expressed or 
implied. desks, tech support)
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How Does Forecast Impact Modern Recruiting 
Strategy?
TREND IMPACT ON RECRUITING TODAY
1 High Turnover = Higher job fills and overhead costs
2 High Job = Salary inflation, benefits wars, 
Demand rejected offers
3 Low Talent = Longer Time-to-Fill, lower Quality of 
Supply Hire
4 Unable to Fill Vacant = Higher Stress and workload on 
Positions existing staff
Poor Work-Life = Work-Life “Blur”, more mistakes, 5 Balance burnout,
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Who is 
InternationRalely-treecnogsniaze?d employee 
experience experts
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What does Retensa 
dRoet?ensa is a global leader and innovator of 
Employee Experience Insights (EX)
Employers act on data-driven predictive analytics mined from 
demographics, market data and real-time feedback to attract 
and retain top talent.
Talent Management Cloud Software 
Services Technology
• ExitPro® Exit Interview
• Cost of Turnover Analysis
Management
• Employee Turnover 
• TalentPulse® Unified 
Prediction
Survey Platform
• Exit Interview Outsourcing • CEnagnadgid• Merger & Acquisition e
amtee,n Nt,e Swt ay 
HInitree,Tracking rview, Diversity 
Surveys, etc.
• Talent Analytics Program 
Design • 360 Degree 
• Retention Diagnosis Assessments, 
Upwards Evaluations, 
Performance 
Checks
• Employee Pulse 
Feedback
Chosen by organizations in 59 countries & 22 
languages.
12
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Where is Retensa’s Continuous Listening 
Platform?
Across 59 countries and 22 languages, Organizations choose Retensa in…
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Industry Turnover Rate: Accommodation & Food 
Services (USA)
Annual and Monthly Turnover 
Rate
Jun 2016 – Jul 2026
8 2
0 Rolling 12-month 0
Average
Annual Current
Annual 
6 50.2Peak
0 Annual 
71.5 1
Low 5
47.2
4 Monthly Monthly 1
0 Peak Current 0
Monthly 7.4 4.7
L2o. w
2 9 5
0
0 0
2016 201 201 2020 2021 2023 202 202 2026
2017 8 9 2022 4 5 Jun
Low High 
Turnover Moderate Turnover Turnover
BACK TO INDEX
Annual Turnover Rate 
(%)
Why do employees quit 
in the
RTope rseatsaonus rkaitcnhetn  & server staff 
Iqnuitd: ustry?
Burnout is widespread.
64% of managers see staff quit due to 
burnout
Low pay and limited career growth. 
40% of employees received no pay 
raise last year.
New hires often cite “inadequate training 
to do the job.” This causes lack of 
confidence, resulting in mistakes and 
ultimately no call/no shows
FAST FACT See how much it 
www.reteAnvsear.acgoem 4 1| %2 1o2f .f5ro4n5t-.o1f2- 80 costs to replace → 17
house staff quit within a 
year. your staff
What is the Cost of Turnover in the Restaurant 
Industry?
The real cost of losing one restaurant 
employee
Bartend Line Waitsta
er Cook ff
$15,3 $15,5 $15,3
05 87 87
CALCULATE HOW TO 
COST OF REDUCE
TURNOVER EDUCATOR 
TURNOVER
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How do I retain Servers, Line Cooks & 
Waitstaff?
Retention improves by capturing motivational drivers across unique 
demographics and roles.
Bartend Line Waitsta
er Cook ff
Prioritize communication Provide mentoring and Reduce burnout 
and conflict structured growth with consistent 
resolution. opportunities. schedules.
Get 10 Free Exit Interviews on 
10 ExitPro®
FRE
E PROMO CODE: TRENDS10
Redeem at retensa.com/software/exitpro
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הדות
Gracia 고고
s Obrigada
고고고고고 THANK YOU
Grazi 고고고고고Mer
e 고
كل اًر كش ci
Discover the world’s easiest Talent Analytic 
solutions:
Retensa TalentPulse ExitPro Exit
Employee Employee Interview 
Retention Experience Software
Strategies Platform
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