Figure 4 G ender — The median tenure of females was shorter than that of males among both White and Hispanic workers, Conclusion Employee Tenure Distribution: All Wage and Salary Workers (Ages 25 w hereas the median tenure of Black females was longer than that of Black males (Figure 2). White workers of or Older), by Race/Ethnicity, 2018 –2022 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council both genders had longer median tenures than those of Black and Hispanic workers. Specifically, the median Although tenure is not a good measure of job security, it does provide insight into how long workers choose to or 100% te nure in 2022 was 6.5 years for male White workers and 5.7 years for female White workers, whereas 5.0 years are allowed to remain with their current employers. When unemployment remained high from 2009–2012, tenure 7.8% 8.3% 8.5% 8.9% 9.8% 10.5% March 30, 2023, #460 20 or More Figure 3 14.1% 14.8% 14.6% (male Hispanic workers) was the highest median tenure among male and female Black and Hispanic workers. levels were generally increasing. However, with the low unemployment rates and increased quit rates from 2020 Years 90% Median Years of Tenure for Wage and Salary Workers (Ages 25 or to 2022, tenure has trended downward. Thus, given that the median tenure of workers is relatively short, w 10 – or 19 kers 16.4% Years 19.3% 18.3% Older), by Race/Ethn 17.3% icity and Age, 2016 –2022 19.7% are likely to be faced with many decision points throughout their working careers about 17.1% their retirement benefits, 80% 5 –9 Years as they will most likely not be with one company their entire career. This is even more likely for Black and 19.8% 20.6% 22.6% Employee Tenure: A Look by Race/Ethnicity 12.0 White 25 –44 White 45+ Black 25 –44 Black 45+ Hispanic 25 –44 Hispanic 45+ 3 –4 Years Hispanic workers, since they have shorter median tenures, which means they will have more chances to withdraw 70% assets from retirement plans — curtailing their building of retirement wealth. As a result, employers and benefits 10.8 >1 –2 20.2% 24.2% A recent Employee Benefit Research Institute (EBRI) Issue Brief examined employee 20.0% tenure data of American Figure 222.4% 11.0 22.5% 20.0% 10.5 10.5 provi 60% ders need to account for these job changes, which particularly affect minority populations, when des Yi eg ani rs ng 1 workers. However, the research did not look at tenure differences by the race/ethnicity of the workers. This Fast Median Years of Tenure for Wage and Salary Workers (Ages 25 or 1 Year or 10.0 the features in retirement plans and the participant advice or education prog 21.8% rams provided in conjunction with 21.4% 20.9% Less Fact uses the January supplement to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey (CPS) to compare the 10.0 Older), by Race/Ethnicity and Gender, 2016 –2022 50% these plans. 2 emp8. loye 0 e tenures of White, Black, and Hispanic workers. This includes the most recent data from just before the 20.0% White — Male White — Female Black — Ma 19.6% le 18.9% 18.6% pandemic in January 2020 and after in January 2022. 19.3% 19.0% 9.0 40% The Employee Benefit Research Institute is a private, nonpartisan, and nonprofit research institute based in Black — Female Hispanic — Male 15.9% Hispanic — Female 7.5 15.3% 15.2% Washington, D.C., t8.0 hat focuses on health, savi 8.0 ngs, retirement, and economic security issues. EBRI does not lobby 7.8 Median Tenure 30% 8.0 and does not take policy positions. The work of EBRI is made possible by funding from its members and 9.8% 11.4% 12.7% 12.7% 12.1% 12.6% 7.0 6.8 6.8 sponsors, which include a broad range of public and private organizations. For more information, visit 7.0 10.6% 12.3% 11.8% 20% The median tenure for all wage and salary workers ages 25 or older in 2022 was 4.9 years compared with 5.1 7.0 www.ebri.org. 6.5 6.5 years in 2016. White workers’ median tenure was slightly higher in 2022 at 5.1 years, while the median tenures of 7.0 7.0 7.0 6.5 23.1% 21.0% 10% 19.8% 20.1% 19.7% 18.9% both Black and Hispanic workers were lower at 4.6 years and 4.5 years, respectively (Figure 1). The median 17.3% 6.0 15.6% 15.5% tenures of workers of each race/ethnicity in 2022 were below their levels in 2016, with White worke 6.0rs 5.9 6.0 5.8 4.9 0% 4.8 maintaining the highest median tenure. 5.7 4.7 4.7 5.0 White Black Hispanic White 5.6 Black Hispanic White Black Hispanic 5.5 2018 2020 2022 5.5 3.9 3.8 3.8 3.8 4.0 5.5 Source: Employee Benefit Research Institute estimates from the January 2018, 2020, and 2022 Current Population Surveys. 5.3 5.0 5.0 3.8 Figure 1 5.0 3.7 4.8 3.5 3.5 3.0 4.7 Median Years of Tenure for Wage Figure and 5 Salary Workers (Ages 25 or 4.6 2016 2018 2020 2022 4.5 4.5 4.5 Percentage of W O ag lder), e anby d Salary Race/Ethnicit Workers y, A 201 ges 6 – 25 2022 or Older Who Had 10 4.5 Source: Employee Benefit Research Institute estimates from the January 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022 Current Population Surveys. 4.6 7.5 4.5 4.5 or More Years of Tenure, by Race/Ethnicity, 2016 –2022 4.0 4.3 4.0 40% 7.0 W W hi hi te te BlB ac lac k k HisHi pan spian c ic 3.5 38% 6.5 2016 2018 2020 2022 6.0 6.0 Source: Employee Benefit Research Institute estimates from the January 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022 Current Population Surveys. 6.0 36% 36.7% Distribution of Tenure 36.5% 35.4% 5.5 Black and Hispanic workers are more likely to have the shortest tenures (one year or less). In 2022, 23.1 percent 34% 34.4% of Black workers and 21.0 percent of Hispanic workers had tenures of one year or less compared with 17.3 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 per cent of White workers (Figure 4). These 2022 percentages are above their 2018 levels. For the highest tenures, 32% 4.6 Age — Older workers (ages 45 or older) had longer median tenures than younger workers (ages 25–44), Whi te workers had the highest percentage with 20 or more years of tenure at 14.6 percent, vs. 10.5 percent for 4.5 4.5 regardless of race or ethnicity (Figure 3). For example, the median tenure of Black workers ages 45 or older was Black workers and 8.5 percent for Hispanic workers in 2022. The highest tenure percentages were also larger than 4.5 4.7 1 29.6% 4.5 4.5 7.8 years in 2022, compared with 3.9 years among Black workers ages 25–44. Both older and younger White the Co ir p 20 elan 18 l d, C eve raig ls, wi , “Trt en h d the s inWhi Emp te wo loyeer ker Tens’ ur e, sha 19 re c 83– o2nsi 022 st ,” en EtB ly be RI Is is ng ue tB he b riefi , gge no. st 57 . 8 (Employee Benefit Research 30% 4.3 I w nor stitu ker te, s ha Jand u m ary edi 19an t , 20enur 23). es longer than those of older and younger Black and Hispanic workers, respectfully. 28.6% 4.0 Tenure of 10 or More Years 27.6% 2 28% The data come from the January 2016–2022 supplement to the Current Population Survey (CPS), a monthly survey of 27.1% 3.5 ap proximately 60,000 households on demographics, labor force status, and other characteristics of the civilian, Corresponding with White workers having the largest share of workers with 20 or more years of tenure, they also 27.1% n oninstitutionalized American population. The U.S. Census Bureau conducts this CPS supplement for the U.S. Department of 26% had the highest percentage with 10 or years at 34.4 percent in 2022 (Fi26.6% gure 5). This compares with 27.6 percent of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The race/ethnicity indicators are those provided in CPS. 3.0 26.3% Black workers and 25.0 percent of Hispanic workers having this tenure level. The percentages with 10 or more 2016 2018 2020 2022 25.0% years of tenure have trended down among each race/ethnicity since 2016 while maintaining the relative tenure 24% Source: Employee Benefit Research Institute estimates from the January 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022 Current Population Surveys. rank by race/ethnici 20t1 y. 6 2018 2020 2022 ### Source: Employee Benefit Research Institute estimates from the January 2016, 2018, 2020, and 2022 Current Population Surveys. 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