Median Tenure with Employer: 4.1 Years

How long have you worked for your current employer? Among all wage and salary workers aged 16 or older, median tenure was 4.1 years as of January 2020. Among workers aged 25 or older, median tenure was 4.9 years.

The median tenure of workers aged 25 or older was slightly higher a decade ago in 2010, at 5.2 years. Tenure declined in every age group over the decade with one exception. Among workers aged 65 or older, median tenure grew from 9.9 years in 2010 to 10.3 years in 2020. One reason for the increase is the rising labor force participation of older Americans. 

Median years of tenure with current employer by age, 2020

Aged 25 to 34: 2.8

Aged 35 to 44: 4.9

Aged 45 to 54: 7.5

Aged 55 to 64: 9.9

Aged 65-plus: 10.3

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employee Tenure in 2020

Long-Term Job Decline

In 2016, one-third (33.8 percent) of employed men aged 25 or older had been with their current employer for 10 or more years, almost the same percentage as two decades earlier in 1996 (33.1 percent). By age group, however, things have changed. Long-term employment has declined for men of prime working age and increased among men aged 60-plus as older workers postpone retirement.

Percentage of men with current employer 10-plus years, 2016 
(and percentage point change 1996-2016)
Aged 25 to 29: 3.4% (+0.1)
Aged 30 to 34: 13.2% (–2.4)
Aged 35 to 39: 25.1%  (–5.4)
Aged 40 to 44: 34.8% (–6.9)
Aged 45 to 49: 44.4% (–6.4)
Aged 50 to 54: 50.4% (–4.5)
Aged 55 to 59: 53.4% (–2.3)
Aged 60 to 64: 55.5% (+5.1)
Aged 65-plus: 54.6% (+7.0)

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employee Tenure in 2016

Who Has A New Job?

Among all wage and salary workers aged 20 or older, a substantial 19.7 percent have had their current job for one year or less. Here are the percentages by age...

Worked for current employer for 12 months or less
Aged 20 to 24: 49.2%
Aged 25 to 34: 26.6%
Aged 35 to 44: 16.7%
Aged 45 to 54: 12.0%
Aged 55 to 64:   8.9%
Aged 65-plus:    7.8%

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employee Tenure