turnover rate

Meanings

1. 1nouncountablebusiness

   The proportion of employees who leave a company in a given period and are replaced.

   Grammar: Takes an article: a high turnover rate.

   Patterns

   • a turnover rate of 20 percent
   • reduce the turnover rate

   The restaurant has a high turnover rate because the hours are long.

   A low turnover rate suggests that employees are happy.

   The company reduced its turnover rate by raising wages.

2. 2nouncountablebusiness

   How quickly a business sells and replaces its stock, or how fast tenants, customers or tables change.

   Grammar: Used with a number or adjective: a rapid turnover rate.

   Patterns

   • the turnover rate of something

   The shop's turnover rate for fresh fruit is very fast.

   A quick table turnover rate helps the cafe earn more.

   Landlords watch the turnover rate of tenants.

Word forms

Common combinations

high turnover rate

A high turnover rate costs the firm money.

low turnover rate

The hospital enjoys a low turnover rate.

employee turnover rate

Employee turnover rate rose to 18 percent.

reduce the turnover rate

Better training can reduce the turnover rate.

inventory turnover rate

The inventory turnover rate was four times a year.

Synonyms and how they differ

attrition rate

Attrition rate counts people who leave but are not replaced, while turnover counts leaving and replacement.

churn

Churn is used for customers or subscribers, and is more informal.

retention rate

Retention rate is the opposite measure, how many stay.

Opposites

Word family

turnover noun

the rate at which things or people are replaced; also total sales in British English

turn over verb

to change or sell and replace

rate noun

a measure of speed or frequency

Commonly confused: turnover rate or revenue?

Practice

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