A nation of quitters: US workers aren't staying at jobs for as long as they used to
In the last decade between 2012 and 2022, the median job tenure has dropped nearly 11% from 4.6 years to 4.1 years, according to the latest LendingTree study, which analyzed US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data.
The biggest dip in job tenure was for workers between 25 and 34, which fell 12.5% from 3.3 years to 2.8 years. Tenure for those 35 to 44 dropped from 5.3 years to 4.7 years. For those in the 45 to 54 cohort, it slid from 7.8 years to 6.9 years; 55 to 64 year olds left after 9.8 years, down from 10.3 years, and tenure for those 65 and older slipped the slightest (3.9%) from 10.3 years to 9.9 years.
"Shorter job tenures don’t necessarily mean that all people hate their jobs and are itching to leave them as soon as possible, but it does suggest that employees might be a bit more willing to seek greener pastures, or otherwise try something new, than they once were," Lending Tree senior economist Jacob Channel told Yahoo Finance.
"And that’s not a bad thing. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with seeking a new employer who will pay you more money or otherwise treat you better."
