Hidden Costs of Turnover and How to Fix It

Entry-Level Turnover Is Quietly Killing Your Margins

U.S. companies lose $1 trillion annually to voluntary turnover. In industries like retail, logistics, and food service, turnover for entry-level roles averages 60–80% a year.

Replacing a single $35K employee? That'll cost you over $11,000 when you factor in:

  • Lost productivity

  • Recruiting and onboarding

  • Training time

  • Manager morale

  • Customer disruption

The Real Reasons Employees Leave

Our participants describe it best:

“Once I was hired, I was on my own.”
“I didn’t know what I was working toward.”
“My manager didn’t care about me—just results.”

Top reasons for early exits:

  • Poor management or lack of post-hire support

  • No growth pathway

  • Life barriers like childcare or transportation

What Actually Works: The Ignite Model

At Ignite Nebraska, we deliver 93% retention by:

  • Providing career coaching and real support after hire

  • Offering soft skills training + barrier removal

  • Aligning with state resources, employer goals, and employee needs

Tools to Help You Get Started

We created a free toolkit to help employers reduce turnover:

✔️ Turnover Cost Calculator

✔️ Strategy Scorecard

✔️ Employer Playbook

Want access? Click here to get FREE download sent to your inbox!

Let's Fix It — Together

This isn’t just about HR—it’s about building stronger teams, better margins, and lasting retention. Watch the presentation, and let’s start the conversation. Reach out to us at info@ignitenebraska.org to learn about our programs.

Sources

  • Gallup – U.S. companies lose $1 trillion annually to voluntary turnover
    Read more

  • Work Institute 2024 Retention Report – Replacing a $35K employee costs over $11,000
    Download report

  • Work Institute 2023 Retention Report – 40% of hourly workers leave within 90 days
    Download report

  • TIME / Good Jobs Institute – Entry-level turnover rates of 60–80% in retail, food service, and logistics
    Read article

  • Work Institute – Reasons for turnover: lack of growth, poor management, outside barriers
    Read more