Attachment C-Employee Tenure news release 2024

For release 10:00 a.m. (ET) Thursday, September 26, 2024

USDL-24-1971

Technical information: (202) 691-6378 • cpsinfo@bls.gov • www.bls.gov/cps
Media contact:
(202) 691-5902 • PressOffice@bls.gov

EMPLOYEE TENURE IN 2024
The median number of years that wage and salary workers had been with their current employer
was 3.9 years in January 2024, down from 4.1 years in January 2022 and the lowest since
January 2002, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.
The U.S. Department of Labor's Chief Evaluation Office sponsored the January 2024 survey to
collect information on employee tenure. Since 1996, these surveys have been conducted
biennially in January as a supplement to the Current Population Survey (CPS). The CPS is a
monthly sample survey of about 60,000 households that provides information on the labor force
status of the civilian noninstitutional population age 16 and over. The questions about employee
tenure measure how long workers had been with their current employer at the time of the survey.
A number of factors can affect median tenure of workers, including changes in the age profile
among workers, as well as changes in the number of hires and separations. For further
information about the CPS, see the Technical Note in this news release.
Demographic Characteristics
In January 2024, median employee tenure (the point at which half of all workers had more tenure
and half had less tenure) for men was 4.2 years, a decrease from 4.3 years in January 2022. For
women, median tenure was 3.6 years in January 2024, down from the median of 3.8 years in
January 2022. Among men, 28 percent of wage and salary workers had 10 years or more of
tenure with their current employer in January 2024, higher than the figure for women (24
percent). (See tables 1 and 3.)
Median employee tenure was generally higher among older workers than younger ones. For
example, the median tenure of workers ages 55 to 64 (9.6 years) was more than three times that
of workers ages 25 to 34 (2.7 years). Also, a larger proportion of older workers than younger
workers had 10 years or more of tenure. For example, among workers ages 60 to 64, 52 percent
had been employed for at least 10 years with their current employer in January 2024, compared
with 21 percent of those ages 35 to 39. (See tables 1 and 2.)
Among the major race and ethnicity groups, 28 percent of Whites had been with their current
employer for 10 years or more in January 2024, compared with 25 percent of Asians, 22 percent
of Blacks, and 22 percent of Hispanics. (See table 3.) The higher share of long-tenured workers
among Whites can be explained, in part, by the fact that they tend to be older. Among White

wage and salary workers, 23 percent were age 55 and over. By comparison, the proportions for
Blacks (19 percent), Asians (18 percent), and Hispanics (16 percent) were smaller.
In January 2024, the share of wage and salary workers with a year or less of tenure with their
current employer was 22 percent, lower than the proportion in January 2022 (24 percent). This
short-tenured group includes new hires, job losers who found new jobs during the previous year,
and workers who had voluntarily changed employers during the year. Younger workers were
more likely than older workers to be short-tenured employees. For example, in January 2024, 70
percent of 16- to 19-year-olds had tenure of 12 months or less with their current employer,
compared with 10 percent of workers ages 55 to 64. (See table 3.)
Among workers ages 25 and over, women with less than a high school diploma had lower
median tenure (3.8 years) in January 2024 than associate degree holders (4.9 years) and college
graduates (4.7 years). The median tenure for men with less than a high school diploma was little
different than for those with more education. (See table 4.)
Industry
In January 2024, wage and salary workers in the public sector had a median tenure of 6.2 years,
nearly twice the median for private-sector employees (3.5 years). One factor behind this
difference is age. About 3 in 4 government workers were age 35 and over, compared with about
3 in 5 private wage and salary workers. (See table 5.)
Within the private sector, workers in mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction (5.7 years),
manufacturing (4.9 years), and financial activities (4.7 years) had the highest tenure among
major industries in January 2024. By contrast, workers in leisure and hospitality had the lowest
median tenure (2.1 years). These differences in tenure reflect many factors, one of which is
varying age distributions across the industries; workers in the major industries with the highest
tenure tend to be older than those in leisure and hospitality.
Occupation
Among the major occupation groups, workers in management, professional, and related
occupations had the highest median tenure (4.8 years) in January 2024. Within this group,
employees with jobs in management occupations (5.7 years), education, training, and library
occupations (5.3 years), and architecture and engineering occupations (4.9 years) had the longest
tenure. Workers in service occupations, who are generally younger than people employed in
management, professional, and related occupations, had the lowest median tenure (2.7 years).
Among employees working in service occupations, workers in food preparation and serving
related occupations (2.0 years) and personal care and service occupations (2.5 years) had the
lowest median tenure. (See table 6.)

-2-

Technical Note
The data in this news release were collected
through a supplement to the January 2024 Current
Population Survey (CPS). The CPS, which is
conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau for the Bureau
of Labor Statistics (BLS), is a monthly survey of about
60,000 eligible households that provides information
on the labor force status, demographics, and other
characteristics of the nation's civilian noninstitutional
population age 16 and over.
The January 2024 CPS supplement, which
was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor,
obtained information on worker displacement and
workers' tenure with their current employer. The data
on
worker
displacement
are
online
at
www.bls.gov/cps/lfcharacteristics.htm#displaced.
Updated population controls for the CPS are
introduced annually with the release of the January
data. Additional information about population controls
is
available
on
the
BLS
website
at
www.bls.gov/cps/documentation.htm#pop.
If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a
speech disability, please dial 7-1-1 to access
telecommunications relay services.
Reliability of the estimates
Statistics based on the CPS are subject to both
sampling and nonsampling error. When a sample,
rather than the entire population, is surveyed, there is
a chance that the sample estimates may differ from the
true population values they represent. The component
of this difference that occurs because samples differ by
chance is known as sampling error, and its variability
is measured by the standard error of the estimate.
There is about a 90-percent chance, or level of
confidence, that an estimate based on a sample will
differ by no more than 1.6 standard errors from the true
population value because of sampling error. BLS
analyses are generally conducted at the 90-percent
level of confidence.
The CPS data also are affected by
nonsampling error. Nonsampling error can occur for
many reasons, including the failure to sample a
segment of the population, inability to obtain
information for all respondents in the sample, inability
or unwillingness of respondents to provide correct
information, and errors made in the collection or
processing of the data.
Information about the reliability of data from
the CPS and guidance on estimating standard errors is
available
at
www.bls.gov/cps/documentation.htm#reliability.

Concepts and questions
Employee tenure is a measure of how long
wage and salary workers had been with their current
employer at the time of the survey. Many of the
estimates shown in this report are medians; the median
is the point at which half of all workers had more
tenure and half had less tenure. Data refer to the sole
or principal job of full- and part-time workers.
Wage and salary workers receive wages,
salaries, commissions, tips, payment in kind, or piece
rates. The group includes employees in both the
private and public sectors but excludes all selfemployed people, both those with incorporated
businesses as well as those with unincorporated
businesses.
In the CPS supplement, questions on tenure
were asked of all employed people. The main question
was: "How long has ... been working continuously for
(fill in name of present employer)?"
_____ Days
_____ Weeks
_____ Months
_____ Years
For responses of "1 year" or "2 years," a
follow-up question was asked: "Could you please give
the exact number of months?"
The purpose of the follow-up question is to
obtain more precise information on workers who had
been with their current employer for a relatively short
time. This follow-up question was included for the
first time in the February 1996 CPS supplement on
worker displacement and tenure. CPS supplements
that obtained information on tenure in January of
1983, 1987, and 1991 did not include the follow-up
question. In those surveys, responses of 1 year or more
could be coded only as the nearest full year, and
responses of less than a year were coded as the nearest
full month. Currently, the 2-year category includes 24
to 29 months, and the 3-year category includes 2.5 to
3.5 years.
Prior to January 1983, CPS supplements on
tenure asked wage and salary workers, "When did ...
start working at (his/her) present job?" For wage and
salary workers, the meaning of the term "job" is
ambiguous. For example, a worker who had been
employed at a particular company for 10 years and had
been promoted to a managerial position 1 year prior to
the survey may have been counted as having 10 years
or 1 year of tenure, depending on whether the

respondent interpreted the question to mean tenure
with the current employer or tenure in the managerial
position. To rectify this ambiguity, the wording of the
question was changed in January 1983 to specify the
length of time a worker had been with his or her
current employer. The change resulted in a break in
historical comparability.
Interpreting tenure data
Data on tenure have been used as a gauge of
employment security, with some observers regarding
increases in tenure as a sign of improving security and
decreasing tenure as a sign of deteriorating security.
However, there are limitations to using the data in this
way. For example, during recessions or other periods
of declining job security, median tenure and the
proportion of workers with long tenure could rise if

less-senior workers are more likely to lose their jobs
than are workers with longer tenure. During periods of
economic growth, median tenure and the proportion of
workers with long tenure could fall if more job
opportunities are available for new entrants to the
workforce and experienced workers have more
opportunities to change employers and take better
jobs. Tenure also could rise under improving
economic conditions, however, as fewer layoffs occur
and good job matches develop between workers and
employers.
A changing age distribution among workers
would also affect median tenure. Since older workers
are more likely to have long tenure with their current
employer than younger workers, aging baby boomers
in the workforce would provide upward pressure on
overall median tenure.

Table 1. Median years of tenure with current employer for employed wage and salary workers by age and sex,
selected years, 2014-2024
Age and sex
Total
16 years and over
16 to 17 years
18 to 19 years
20 to 24 years
25 years and over
25 to 34 years
35 to 44 years
45 to 54 years
55 to 64 years
65 years and over
Men
16 years and over
16 to 17 years
18 to 19 years
20 to 24 years
25 years and over
25 to 34 years
35 to 44 years
45 to 54 years
55 to 64 years
65 years and over
Women
16 years and over
16 to 17 years
18 to 19 years
20 to 24 years
25 years and over
25 to 34 years
35 to 44 years
45 to 54 years
55 to 64 years
65 years and over

January
2014

January
2016

January
2018

January
2020

January
2022

January
2024

4.6
0.7
0.8
1.3
5.5
3.0
5.2
7.9
10.4
10.3

4.2
0.6
0.8
1.3
5.1
2.8
4.9
7.9
10.1
10.3

4.2
0.6
0.8
1.2
5.0
2.8
4.9
7.6
10.1
10.2

4.1
0.7
0.8
1.3
4.9
2.8
4.9
7.5
9.9
10.3

4.1
0.7
0.7
1.2
4.9
2.8
4.7
6.9
9.8
9.9

3.9
0.7
0.9
1.4
4.8
2.7
4.6
7.0
9.6
9.8

4.7
0.7
0.9
1.4
5.5
3.1
5.4
8.2
10.7
10.0

4.3
0.6
0.8
1.3
5.2
2.9
5.0
8.4
10.2
10.2

4.3
0.5
0.8
1.3
5.1
2.9
5.0
8.1
10.2
10.2

4.3
0.7
0.8
1.4
5.1
2.9
5.1
8.2
10.0
10.3

4.3
0.7
0.7
1.3
5.1
2.9
5.0
7.5
10.0
9.7

4.2
0.8
0.9
1.5
5.1
2.8
4.9
7.5
10.0
10.1

4.5
0.7
0.8
1.3
5.4
2.9
5.1
7.6
10.2
10.5

4.0
0.6
0.8
1.2
5.0
2.6
4.8
7.5
10.0
10.4

4.0
0.7
0.8
1.2
4.9
2.7
4.7
7.1
10.1
10.1

3.9
0.7
0.8
1.2
4.8
2.7
4.6
6.8
9.8
10.4

3.8
0.6
0.8
1.1
4.7
2.7
4.5
6.3
9.5
10.0

3.6
0.7
0.9
1.3
4.6
2.5
4.3
6.3
8.5
9.3

NOTE: Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data. Dash indicates no data or data that do not
meet publication criteria (values not shown where base is less than 75,000).

Table 2. Percent of employed wage and salary workers 25 years and over who had 10 years or more of tenure with their
current employer by age and sex, selected years, 2014-2024
Age and sex

January
2014

January
2016

January
2018

January
2020

January
2022

January
2024

Total
25 years and over
25 to 29 years
30 to 34 years
35 to 39 years
40 to 44 years
45 to 49 years
50 to 54 years
55 to 59 years
60 to 64 years
65 years and over

33.3
2.5
12.3
24.4
33.1
41.6
48.1
53.3
58.0
55.0

33.2
2.6
12.5
24.4
34.3
41.8
48.0
53.0
54.7
55.3

33.2
2.1
12.1
25.7
34.4
42.8
47.1
52.5
56.5
54.4

32.2
1.6
9.9
24.7
33.8
42.3
47.3
51.0
54.0
55.4

31.0
1.7
9.4
21.0
32.4
39.0
46.0
50.2
53.3
52.4

30.2
2.0
9.4
20.9
29.8
39.0
44.5
49.5
52.1
51.7

34.0
2.9
13.3
25.9
34.5
43.8
49.9
53.8
59.1
53.1

33.8
3.4
13.2
25.1
34.8
44.4
50.4
53.4
55.5
54.6

33.8
2.4
13.0
26.5
36.9
45.1
48.7
53.2
54.7
55.4

33.1
2.0
10.7
26.1
36.0
44.7
48.9
51.2
55.4
54.7

32.2
2.4
10.1
23.1
34.3
41.8
47.3
52.5
53.2
51.5

32.0
2.5
10.9
22.1
32.5
41.3
47.9
53.2
53.3
53.7

32.6
2.1
11.1
22.7
31.5
39.4
46.3
52.8
56.9
56.9

32.6
1.7
11.7
23.7
33.8
39.1
45.6
52.6
53.9
55.9

32.5
1.8
11.0
24.8
31.7
40.4
45.5
51.7
58.2
53.4

31.2
1.3
8.9
23.1
31.6
39.8
45.7
50.8
52.6
56.2

29.6
1.1
8.5
18.7
30.4
36.1
44.5
47.7
53.5
53.4

28.2
1.6
7.7
19.7
26.9
36.7
40.8
45.7
50.7
49.7

Men
25 years and over
25 to 29 years
30 to 34 years
35 to 39 years
40 to 44 years
45 to 49 years
50 to 54 years
55 to 59 years
60 to 64 years
65 years and over
Women
25 years and over
25 to 29 years
30 to 34 years
35 to 39 years
40 to 44 years
45 to 49 years
50 to 54 years
55 to 59 years
60 to 64 years
65 years and over

NOTE: Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data. Dash indicates no data or data that do not meet
publication criteria (values not shown where base is less than 75,000).

Table 3. Distribution of employed wage and salary workers by tenure with current employer, age, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino
ethnicity, January 2024
Percent distribution by tenure with current employer

Age, sex, race, and
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity

Total
16 years and over
16 to 19 years
20 years and over
20 to 24 years
25 to 34 years
35 to 44 years
45 to 54 years
55 to 64 years
65 years and over
Men
16 years and over
16 to 19 years
20 years and over
20 to 24 years
25 to 34 years
35 to 44 years
45 to 54 years
55 to 64 years
65 years and over
Women
16 years and over
16 to 19 years
20 years and over
20 to 24 years
25 to 34 years
35 to 44 years
45 to 54 years
55 to 64 years
65 years and over
White
16 years and over
Men
Women
Black or African American
16 years and over
Men
Women
Asian
16 years and over
Men
Women
Hispanic or Latino ethnicity
16 years and over
Men
Women

Number employed
(in thousands)

Total

12
months
or less

13 to 23
months

2 years

3 to 4
years

5 to 9
years

10 to 14
years

15 to 19
years

20 years
or more

143,719
5,158
138,561
13,711
33,359
32,277
28,070
22,940
8,203

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

22.2
70.3
20.4
48.3
28.1
17.5
12.6
9.6
10.5

7.3
11.9
7.1
13.3
9.6
6.9
4.9
4.4
3.1

6.6
9.7
6.4
12.0
9.4
6.0
4.1
3.2
4.2

17.7
7.6
18.1
20.8
24.6
18.8
14.6
12.7
12.1

20.0
0.1
20.7
5.5
22.5
25.6
22.0
19.5
18.4

9.7
10.1
0.2
5.4
13.3
13.8
12.6
13.4

6.4
6.7
0.4
8.5
10.8
10.5
11.2

10.1
10.4
3.5
17.2
27.5
27.1

73,928
2,411
71,517
6,792
17,539
16,853
14,368
11,809
4,155

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

21.1
69.2
19.4
46.6
27.8
16.2
11.6
9.1
9.2

7.1
13.1
6.9
12.6
8.7
6.9
4.7
4.5
3.6

6.1
7.9
6.1
12.7
8.4
5.5
4.0
2.8
3.9

17.4
9.2
17.7
21.4
25.0
17.9
13.7
11.8
11.3

20.3
20.9
6.6
23.2
26.3
21.4
18.5
18.3

10.3
10.6
0.2
6.2
14.1
14.2
12.8
13.3

6.9
7.1
0.6
9.5
11.6
11.0
10.4

10.9
11.2
0.1
3.6
18.8
29.4
30.1

69,791
2,747
67,044
6,919
15,820
15,424
13,701
11,131
4,048

100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0

23.4
71.2
21.4
49.9
28.5
18.8
13.8
10.1
11.7

7.6
10.9
7.4
14.0
10.5
7.0
5.1
4.3
2.6

7.0
11.2
6.8
11.3
10.5
6.4
4.2
3.5
4.4

18.1
6.2
18.6
20.2
24.1
19.7
15.6
13.7
13.0

19.6
0.3
20.4
4.4
21.6
24.8
22.7
20.5
18.5

9.2
9.6
0.1
4.6
12.4
13.4
12.4
13.6

5.9
6.2
0.2
7.4
9.9
10.0
12.0

9.2
9.6
3.3
15.5
25.5
24.1

108,727
56,847
51,880

100.0
100.0
100.0

21.2
20.0
22.5

7.4
7.0
7.8

6.5
6.2
6.9

17.0
16.7
17.3

20.3
20.6
19.9

10.0
10.5
9.4

6.9
7.4
6.3

10.8
11.7
9.8

18,485
8,570
9,915

100.0
100.0
100.0

26.9
27.7
26.3

6.1
5.9
6.3

6.5
6.2
6.8

20.1
19.7
20.5

18.8
18.2
19.3

9.1
9.8
8.5

4.6
4.7
4.5

7.8
7.8
7.8

10,457
5,451
5,006

100.0
100.0
100.0

21.3
20.5
22.1

7.8
8.4
7.2

5.9
5.5
6.3

20.5
19.5
21.6

19.8
20.6
19.0

10.0
10.2
9.8

6.4
6.9
5.8

8.2
8.3
8.2

27,852
15,201
12,652

100.0
100.0
100.0

25.2
23.7
26.9

6.8
6.5
7.1

8.2
7.6
9.0

18.7
17.6
19.9

19.5
20.3
18.6

9.4
10.9
7.7

5.4
5.6
5.1

6.8
7.8
5.7

NOTE: Detail for the above race groups (White, Black or African American, and Asian) do not sum to totals because data are not presented for all races. People
whose ethnicity is identified as Hispanic or Latino may be of any race. Because of rounding, sums of individual items may not equal totals. Updated population
controls are introduced annually with the release of January data. Dash indicates no data or data that do not meet publication criteria (values not shown where
base is less than 75,000).

Table 4. Median years of tenure with current employer for employed wage and salary workers 25 years and over by
educational attainment, sex, and age, January 2024
25 years and over

Educational attainment and sex

25 to 34
years

Total

35 to 44
years

45 to 54
years

55 to 64
years

65 years and
over

Total
Less than a high school diploma
High school graduates, no college
Some college, no degree
Associate degree
College graduates
Bachelor's degree only
Master's degree
Doctoral or professional degree

4.8
4.7
4.7
4.5
5.2
4.9
4.8
5.2
4.8

2.7
2.3
2.7
2.4
2.9
2.8
2.8
2.9
1.9

4.6
3.4
4.6
4.0
4.8
4.9
5.0
4.8
4.3

7.0
5.4
5.6
7.0
7.2
7.9
7.3
9.2
8.0

9.6
9.5
9.6
7.7
10.1
9.7
9.4
9.9
13.6

9.8
9.6
9.9
9.2
9.7
9.9
9.8
8.8
13.5

Men
Less than a high school diploma
High school graduates, no college
Some college, no degree
Associate degree
College graduates
Bachelor's degree only
Master's degree
Doctoral or professional degree

5.1
5.2
4.8
4.8
5.6
5.2
5.1
5.3
5.4

2.8
2.4
2.9
2.4
3.0
2.9
3.0
2.8
1.8

4.9
4.2
4.8
4.1
5.4
5.2
5.5
4.8
4.1

7.5
7.5
6.4
7.4
7.6
8.1
7.8
9.2
9.8

10.0
9.9
9.9
8.4
10.8
10.3
10.0
10.1
15.5

10.1
9.0
10.0
8.8
10.2
11.8
10.8
9.4
18.0

Women
Less than a high school diploma
High school graduates, no college
Some college, no degree
Associate degree
College graduates
Bachelor's degree only
Master's degree
Doctoral or professional degree

4.6
3.8
4.4
4.2
4.9
4.7
4.4
5.2
4.3

2.5
2.2
2.4
2.3
2.7
2.6
2.6
3.0
2.0

4.3
2.7
3.7
3.9
4.3
4.6
4.5
4.7
4.5

6.3
4.6
4.9
6.5
6.8
7.6
6.6
9.2
7.1

8.5
7.7
8.9
7.0
9.6
8.7
8.2
9.5
9.8

9.3
9.9
9.6
9.5
8.3
8.7
8.6
8.3
9.9

NOTE: Updated population controls are introduced annually with the release of January data. Dash indicates no data or data that do not meet
publication criteria (values not shown where base is less than 75,000).

Table 5. Median years of tenure with current employer for employed wage and salary workers by industry, selected years,
2014-2024
Industry

Total, 16 years and over
Private sector
Agriculture and related industries
Nonagricultural industries
Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction
Construction
Manufacturing
Durable goods manufacturing
Nonmetallic mineral products
Primary metals and fabricated metal products
Machinery manufacturing
Computers and electronic products
Electrical equipment and appliances
Transportation equipment
Wood products
Furniture and related product manufacturing
Miscellaneous manufacturing
Nondurable goods manufacturing
Food manufacturing
Beverages and tobacco products
Textiles, apparel, and leather
Paper and printing
Petroleum and coal products
Chemicals
Plastics and rubber products
Wholesale and retail trade
Wholesale trade
Retail trade
Transportation and utilities
Transportation and warehousing
Utilities
Information¹
Publishing, except Internet
Motion pictures and sound recording industries
Radio and television broadcasting and cable
subscriptions programming
Telecommunications
Financial activities
Finance and insurance
Finance
Insurance
Real estate and rental and leasing
Real estate
Rental and leasing services
Professional and business services
Professional and technical services
Management, administrative, and waste services¹
Administrative and support services
Waste management and remediation services
Education and health services
Educational services
Health care and social assistance
Hospitals
Health services, except hospitals
Social assistance
See footnotes at end of table.

January
2014

January
2016

January
2018

January
2020

January
2022

January
2024

4.6
4.1
3.6
4.1
4.0
3.9
5.9
6.0
7.6
6.1
6.2
5.1
5.8
7.1
4.6
5.9
5.1
5.9
4.7
4.8
5.3
9.7
6.1
7.1
6.5
3.6
5.8
3.3
5.1
4.7
9.2
4.8
5.3
2.4

4.2
3.7
4.5
3.7
4.6
4.0
5.3
5.4
5.1
6.0
5.5
5.3
4.7
6.1
4.7
4.8
5.0
5.1
4.5
4.3
5.6
5.3
6.6
5.3
5.3
3.3
5.2
3.0
4.6
4.4
7.4
4.3
5.7
2.4

4.2
3.8
4.6
3.8
5.1
4.1
5.0
5.3
5.2
6.0
5.7
5.8
4.5
5.7
3.5
4.8
4.8
4.7
3.9
4.1
5.0
5.4
5.0
4.7
5.0
3.2
5.1
3.0
4.8
4.2
9.5
4.4
4.1
2.9

4.1
3.7
3.5
3.7
4.6
4.0
5.1
5.3
5.2
5.4
5.3
6.1
4.5
5.5
3.9
5.5
4.7
4.8
4.2
3.9
5.0
5.9
5.7
5.2
4.5
3.3
5.0
3.1
4.3
3.9
7.7
4.2
5.4
2.7

4.1
3.7
4.7
3.7
5.2
3.9
5.2
5.3
4.9
5.1
5.6
5.4
5.2
6.3
4.3
3.6
4.7
5.0
4.2
4.5
5.5
5.5
9.8
5.1
4.7
3.1
4.9
2.8
3.7
3.4
6.0
4.2
3.8
1.4

3.9
3.5
4.4
3.5
5.7
4.2
4.9
4.9
5.9
4.6
5.0
4.7
5.2
5.0
5.4
4.1
5.0
4.9
4.5
4.6
4.8
5.7
8.6
4.9
5.0
3.1
4.6
2.9
3.7
3.4
4.9
4.2
4.5
3.1

4.1

3.6

5.0

5.3

4.2

3.8

7.8
5.0
5.3
5.0
6.0
4.4
4.6
3.5
3.6
4.2
3.1
3.0
4.7
4.5
4.8
4.4
5.7
3.9
3.2

6.0
4.8
5.0
5.0
5.2
3.8
3.9
3.4
3.4
3.9
2.8
2.6
4.6
3.9
4.0
3.9
5.6
3.4
2.6

5.2
4.7
5.0
4.8
5.4
3.6
3.7
3.4
3.6
3.9
3.3
3.1
5.8
3.9
4.2
3.9
4.9
3.5
3.0

6.6
4.8
4.9
4.8
5.0
4.6
4.7
3.8
3.5
3.9
2.9
2.8
5.3
3.8
3.9
3.8
5.0
3.4
2.9

7.5
4.5
4.8
4.8
4.9
3.9
3.9
3.7
3.4
3.7
2.7
2.6
4.0
4.0
4.1
3.9
5.1
3.4
3.1

6.3
4.7
4.9
4.9
4.9
4.2
4.4
3.4
3.5
3.7
3.2
3.2
4.9
3.6
4.0
3.5
4.7
3.2
2.7

Table 5. Median years of tenure with current employer for employed wage and salary workers by industry, selected years,
2014-2024 -- Continued
Industry
Leisure and hospitality
Arts, entertainment, and recreation
Accommodation and food services
Accommodation
Food services and drinking places
Other services
Other services, except private households
Repair and maintenance
Personal and laundry services
Membership associations and organizations
Other services, private households
Public sector
Federal government
State government
Local government

January
2014

January
2016

January
2018

January
2020

January
2022

January
2024

2.3
3.0
2.1
3.5
2.0
4.0
4.2
4.0
3.7
4.9
3.0

2.2
3.2
2.0
3.0
1.8
3.9
4.1
3.5
3.8
4.9
3.3

2.2
3.0
2.1
3.1
2.0
4.0
3.9
3.3
3.6
4.5
4.5

2.3
3.3
2.1
3.2
2.0
4.1
4.1
3.3
3.8
4.8
4.0

2.0
2.8
1.9
3.1
1.7
3.9
4.0
4.3
3.3
4.7
3.2

2.1
2.7
2.0
2.4
2.0
3.8
3.8
3.3
3.4
4.8
3.4

7.8
8.5
7.4
7.9

7.7
8.8
5.8
8.3

6.8
8.3
5.9
6.9

6.5
8.2
5.6
6.6

6.8
7.6
6.4
6.9

6.2
6.5
5.7
6.4

¹Includes other industries, not shown separately.
NOTE: Beginning with data for January 2020, industries reflect the introduction of the 2017 Census industry classification system into the Current
Population Survey. This industry classification system is derived from the 2017 North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). No historical
data have been revised. Data are not strictly comparable over time due to industry classification changes. Updated population controls are introduced
annually with the release of January data.

Table 6. Median years of tenure with current employer for employed wage and salary workers by occupation, selected years,
2014-2024
Occupation

January
2014

January
2016

January
2018

January
2020

January
2022

January
2024

Total, 16 years and over

4.6

4.2

4.2

4.1

4.1

3.9

Management, professional, and related occupations
Management, business, and financial operations occupations
Management occupations
Business and financial operations occupations
Professional and related occupations
Computer and mathematical occupations
Architecture and engineering occupations
Life, physical, and social science occupations
Community and social service occupations
Legal occupations
Education, training, and library occupations
Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and media occupations
Healthcare practitioners and technical occupations

5.7
6.3
6.9
5.0
5.3
5.0
6.4
5.0
5.1
5.4
6.2
3.4
5.2

5.1
5.5
6.3
4.6
4.9
4.4
5.5
4.9
4.3
5.5
5.3
3.8
4.8

5.0
5.5
6.4
4.5
4.7
4.3
5.7
4.8
4.6
5.1
5.1
3.9
4.3

4.9
5.3
5.8
4.7
4.6
3.9
5.1
4.1
4.6
5.8
5.0
3.4
4.7

5.0
5.3
6.2
4.3
4.7
4.2
5.2
4.5
4.3
4.7
5.5
3.5
4.6

4.8
5.2
5.7
4.5
4.5
4.3
4.9
3.7
4.3
4.0
5.3
3.5
4.3

Service occupations
Healthcare support occupations
Protective service occupations
Food preparation and serving related occupations
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations
Personal care and service occupations

3.3
3.5
6.5
2.2
4.3
2.9

2.9
3.1
6.2
1.9
3.8
2.9

2.9
3.0
5.0
1.9
4.1
3.0

2.9
2.8
5.3
1.9
4.0
3.1

2.8
2.9
6.0
1.6
3.6
2.7

2.7
2.8
5.2
2.0
3.5
2.5

Sales and office occupations
Sales and related occupations
Office and administrative support occupations

4.0
3.4
4.6

3.5
3.1
4.0

3.5
3.2
3.8

3.7
3.3
4.1

3.6
3.4
3.7

3.4
3.3
3.6

Natural resources, construction, and maintenance occupations
Farming, fishing, and forestry occupations
Construction and extraction occupations
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations

4.4
3.2
3.7
5.4

4.5
4.1
4.2
5.2

4.5
4.0
4.2
5.1

4.2
3.5
4.0
4.7

4.1
4.1
3.9
4.4

4.2
5.1
4.1
3.9

Production, transportation, and material moving occupations
Production occupations
Transportation and material moving occupations

4.5
5.2
3.8

4.3
4.7
3.9

4.0
4.4
3.5

3.8
4.9
3.3

3.6
4.6
3.1

3.4
4.1
3.2

NOTE: Beginning with data for January 2020, occupations reflect the introduction of the 2018 Census occupational classification system into the Current
Population Survey. This classification system is derived from the 2018 Standard Occupational Classification (SOC). No historical data have been
revised. Data are not strictly comparable over time due to industry classification changes. Updated population controls are introduced annually with the
release of January data.