Attrition Rate Low and Steady

By: fedweek

The attrition rate at federal agencies has held steady at relatively low levels, according to data compiled by GAO for a report on turnover at DHS. In fiscal 2006, the overall attrition rate at all Cabinet level agencies, excluding the most senior jobs, was 3.9 percent, and about 1 percentage point of even that consisted of transfers to other agencies. Among the biggest agencies, turnover was lowest at Transportation, 1.4 percent, HUD, 1.9, Justice and Energy, 2.5 and Agriculture, 3.3. It was highest at DHS and Commerce, 7.1 percent, Treasury, 4.4, and Education, 4.3. Those numbers were largely the same as in fiscal 2005. The report said that excluding the Transportation Security Administration, which has suffered from high turnover since its creation, attrition at DHS is 3.3 percent. Attrition rates commonly are cited for purposes ranging from gauging employee morale to assessing the adequacy of their pay and benefits.