Meta-Analysis of the Financial Impact of Employee Turnover in United States Companies

Abstract

This meta-analysis aimed to quantify the financial impact of high employee turnover in companies located in the United States, consolidating estimates from empirical studies indexed on databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar. Articles published between 2010 and 2024 that reported direct and indirect costs of turnover were included. The analysis used random effects model, considering the sectoral and methodological heterogeneity, and synthesized the data in a Forest Plot. The combined estimate was US$ 17,800 per employee disconnected (95% CI: US$ 15,600 - US$ 20,000), with significant heterogeneity (I2 = 78%). Costs ranged from $5,000 to $22,000 per employee, depending on the sector and hierarchical level, ranging from direct expenses for recruitment and training to indirect losses such as reduced productivity and institutional knowledge. It is concluded that measuring and understanding these costs is essential to support talent retention strategies, justifying investments in benefits, professional development and improvements in the organizational environment. It is recommended the standardization of metrics and calculation methods to improve human resources management and reduce financial losses resulting from turnover.