The numbers behind the choice
Employee Onboarding Statistics 2026
This page collects figures for anyone redesigning a new hire program or choosing onboarding software: how well onboarding works, what happens in a new hire's first weeks, the manager's role, the cost of early turnover, hiring volume and tenure, the period between offer and start date, and where AI fits. Most data covers the US in 2025 and 2026; Microsoft and ADP Research figures are global. A few long-running Gallup and BambooHR baselines from 2018 to 2023 are kept and labeled by year because no newer edition of the same measure exists.
By the KeenVerdict research desk · Updated November 4, 2026 · 54 figures from 24 sources
59 of 59 source quotes re-checked against the original pages on November 4, 2026
The short answer
In a 2025 TalentLMS and BambooHR survey, 73% of employees were satisfied with onboarding, yet 39% had second thoughts about the new job during it and 52% said it focused too much on admin. US employers made 63.0 million hires in 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Gallup estimates replacing a frontline employee costs about 40% of salary and a manager about 200%.
Key figures
- 73%73% of employees surveyed by TalentLMS and BambooHR in 2025 said they were satisfied with their onboarding experience.TalentLMS and BambooHR
- 39%39% of employees had second thoughts about their new job during onboarding in 2025, per TalentLMS and BambooHR.TalentLMS and BambooHR
- 78%78% of dissatisfied US new hires planned to leave within a year, while 48% of very satisfied new hires expected to stay five years or more, in ZipRecruiter's survey of workers hired in the past six months, second quarter of 2026.ZipRecruiter
- 3.4 timesEmployees are 3.4 times as likely to say their onboarding was successful when their manager takes an active role, according to Gallup research published in 2019.Gallup
- 200%Gallup estimates that replacing a frontline employee costs about 40% of salary, a technical professional 80% and a leader or manager around 200%, in research published in 2024.Gallup
- 63.0 millionUS employers made 63.0 million hires in 2025, 1.5 million fewer than in 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics JOLTS annual estimates.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- 20.6 percent20.6% of US wage and salary workers had been with their employer for a year or less in January 2026, down from 22.2% in January 2024, per BLS.U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- 60%60% of employees said they received no AI training during onboarding, according to TalentLMS and BambooHR's 2025 survey.TalentLMS and BambooHR
Our reading of the data
Most new hires are satisfied with onboarding but many still doubt their choice. The 2025 TalentLMS and BambooHR survey found 73% satisfied and 68% feeling prepared, while 39% had second thoughts during onboarding, 49% among Gen Z. Gallup's stricter measure, only 12% strongly agreeing their organization onboards well in 2018 research, shows how few programs earn top marks. Admin overload is a common complaint: 52% said onboarding favored paperwork over role training and 42% felt overwhelmed by content.
The manager is the strongest lever in the data. Gallup found employees are 3.4 times as likely to call onboarding successful when their manager takes an active role, and only 49% of US employees strongly agreed they know what is expected of them in the first half of 2026. New hires in the TalentLMS and BambooHR survey named a team welcome (53%) and manager support (48%) as the top drivers of belonging. Onboarding tools that assign tasks and check-ins to managers address this more directly than tools that only collect forms.
The scale is large and the market is slow. The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 63.0 million hires in 2025, and 20.6% of US wage and salary workers had a year or less of tenure in January 2026. Median tenure rose to 4.1 years. Gartner found 30% of employees would stay put even with a better offer, while intent to stay fell 19% in two years, so early turnover may rise when confidence returns. Gallup estimates replacement costs at 40% to 200% of salary depending on role, and 42% of voluntary leavers said their exit was preventable.
AI is arriving faster than onboarding programs adapt. The Census Bureau found 56% of US workers had used AI for at least one work task in March 2026, while 60% of employees in the TalentLMS and BambooHR survey got no AI training during onboarding. Paychex found 41% of US small businesses planned AI investment in onboarding, but Gartner found only one in five organizations had realized significant value from AI so far.
How well onboarding works today
- 1.
Only 12% of US employees strongly agreed their organization does a great job onboarding new employees in Gallup research published in 2018, still the most cited baseline for onboarding quality.
Gallup, Why the Onboarding Experience Is Key for Retention (May 2018)
Source quote
Gallup finds that only 12% of employees strongly agree that their organization does a great job onboarding new employees.
- 2.
Only 29% of new hires said they felt fully prepared and supported to excel in their role after onboarding, per Gallup research published in 2021.
Gallup, 8 Practical Tips for Leaders for a Better Onboarding Process (Aug 2021)
Source quote
Yet only 29% of new hires say they feel fully prepared and supported to excel in their role after their onboarding experience.
- 3.
73% of employees surveyed by TalentLMS and BambooHR in 2025 said they were satisfied with their onboarding experience.
TalentLMS and BambooHR, First Day Fog: Onboarding Benchmarking Report for 2025 (Jul 2025)
Source quote
The good news is, satisfaction is high: 73% of employees report being satisfied with their onboarding experience
- 4.
68% of employees left onboarding feeling prepared for success and 75% had a better understanding of how their role contributes to company goals, per the 2025 TalentLMS and BambooHR survey.
TalentLMS and BambooHR, First Day Fog: Onboarding Benchmarking Report for 2025 (Jul 2025)
Source quote
Most employees walk away from onboarding feeling prepared for success (68%) and with a better understanding of how their role contributes to company goals (75%).
- 5.
52% of employees in the 2025 TalentLMS and BambooHR survey said onboarding focused too much on admin rather than role training.
TalentLMS and BambooHR, First Day Fog: Onboarding Benchmarking Report for 2025 (Jul 2025)
Source quote
Some of the biggest pain points come down to poor training: half of employees (52%) find that onboarding focuses too much on admin rather than role training.
- 6.
42% of new hires said their onboarding overwhelmed them with too much content at once, according to TalentLMS and BambooHR's 2025 survey.
TalentLMS and BambooHR, First Day Fog: Onboarding Benchmarking Report for 2025 (Jul 2025)
Source quote
2 in 5 new hires (42%) say their onboarding overwhelmed them with too much content at once.
- 7.
75% of employees who went through hybrid onboarding were satisfied with the process in 2025, the highest of the formats TalentLMS and BambooHR compared.
TalentLMS and BambooHR, TalentLMS and BambooHR Survey Reveals Generational Gaps and AI Opportunities in Employee Onboarding (Jul 2025)
Source quote
According to the research, 75% of employees who experienced hybrid onboarding expressed satisfaction with the process.
- 8.
30% of more than 800 US industrial sector experts surveyed by Talogy in 2026 named the onboarding experience the single most critical factor in a new hire's long-term success.
Talogy, Onboarding holds the secret to closing the 'revolving door' of hiring in US manufacturing, Talogy research finds (Mar 2026)
Source quote
The study, 'Beyond Hiring', which surveyed over 800 industrial sector experts, found that 30% of respondents identified the onboarding experience as the single, most critical factor for a new hire's long-term success.
The first weeks: second thoughts, belonging and early exits
- 9.
39% of employees had second thoughts about their new job during onboarding in 2025, per TalentLMS and BambooHR.
TalentLMS and BambooHR, First Day Fog: Onboarding Benchmarking Report for 2025 (Jul 2025)
Source quote
Nearly 4 in 10 employees (39%) have second thoughts about their new job during onboarding.
- 10.
Among Gen Z employees, 49% had second thoughts about their new job during onboarding in the 2025 TalentLMS and BambooHR survey.
TalentLMS and BambooHR, TalentLMS and BambooHR Survey Reveals Generational Gaps and AI Opportunities in Employee Onboarding (Jul 2025)
Source quote
This percentage is particularly high among Gen Z, with 49% having second thoughts about their new job.
- 11.
70% of US new hires decided whether a job was the right fit within the first month, and 29% knew within the first week, in BambooHR's 2023 study of 1,565 full-time employees.
BambooHR, 44% Of New Hires Regret their Decision Within a Week, BambooHR Study Finds (Sep 2023)
Source quote
The study of 1,565 full-time US employees and 500 HR professionals showed that 70 percent of new hires decide if a new job is the right fit for them within the first month, with 29 percent knowing within the first week.
- 12.
44% of US new employees had regrets or second thoughts about their new role within the first week, and 23% admitted to crying, in BambooHR's 2023 study.
BambooHR, 44% Of New Hires Regret their Decision Within a Week, BambooHR Study Finds (Sep 2023)
Source quote
Alarmingly, 44 percent of new employees have regrets or second thoughts about their new role within the first week, with 23 percent admitting to crying during their first week.
- 13.
The top onboarding frustration for US employees in BambooHR's 2023 study was not knowing who could answer questions, cited by 65%, followed by inadequate product training at 62% and technology issues at 51%.
BambooHR, 44% Of New Hires Regret their Decision Within a Week, BambooHR Study Finds (Sep 2023)
Source quote
Employees' top frustrations with onboarding include a lack of clarity around who can answer questions (65 percent), inadequate training on company products and services (62 percent), and technology issues (51 percent).
- 14.
31% of employees said their onboarding lacked meaningful interactions, per the 2025 TalentLMS and BambooHR survey.
TalentLMS and BambooHR, First Day Fog: Onboarding Benchmarking Report for 2025 (Jul 2025)
Source quote
Creating a culture of belonging begins on day one, but for nearly one third of employees, that connection never clicks: 31% of respondents say their onboarding lacked meaningful interactions.
- 15.
Being welcomed by their team was the top driver of belonging for new hires at 53%, followed by manager support at 48%, per TalentLMS and BambooHR in 2025.
TalentLMS and BambooHR, First Day Fog: Onboarding Benchmarking Report for 2025 (Jul 2025)
Source quote
The top driver for feelings of belonging among new hires is being welcomed by their team (53%) , followed closely by manager support (48%).
- 16.
78% of dissatisfied US new hires planned to leave within a year, while 48% of very satisfied new hires expected to stay five years or more, in ZipRecruiter's survey of workers hired in the past six months, second quarter of 2026.
ZipRecruiter, ZipRecruiter's New Hire Survey 2026 Q2 (May 2026)
Source quote
78% of dissatisfied new hires plan to leave within a year , while almost half (48%) of new hires who are very satisfied expect to stay for 5+ years.
Chart
New hires who felt disconnected during onboarding, by generation, 2025
Share of employees in each generation reporting feeling disconnected during onboarding, TalentLMS and BambooHR survey, 2025.
- Gen Z41%
- Millennials33%
- Gen X29%
- Baby Boomers18%
Source: TalentLMS and BambooHR, First Day Fog: Onboarding Benchmarking Report for 2025
The manager's role and role clarity
- 17.
Employees are 3.4 times as likely to say their onboarding was successful when their manager takes an active role, according to Gallup research published in 2019.
Gallup, The Essential Ingredients of an Effective Onboarding Program (Jan 2019)
Source quote
When the manager takes an active role in onboarding, employees are 3.4 times as likely to feel like their onboarding process was successful.
- 18.
49% of US employees strongly agreed they know what is expected of them at work in the first half of 2026, up two points from 47%, according to Gallup.
Gallup, Employee Engagement Remains Flat as AI Adoption Accelerates (2026)
Source quote
In the first half of 2026, 49% of employees strongly agreed that they know what is expected of them at work, up two percentage points from 47%.
- 19.
Managers account for 70% of the variance in team-level employee engagement, according to Gallup research cited on its 2026 manager development page.
Gallup, Manager Development (Feb 2026)
Source quote
Managers account for 70% of the variance in team-level employee engagement , according to Gallup research.
- 20.
47% of employees said they received feedback from their manager a few times or less in the past year, according to Gallup research cited in 2026.
Gallup, Manager Development (Feb 2026)
Source quote
Gallup research finds: 47% of employees report that they received feedback from their manager “a few times or less” in the past year.
- 21.
51% of managers worldwide said AI training or upskilling will become a key responsibility for their teams within five years, in Microsoft's 2025 Work Trend Index.
Microsoft, 2025: The Year the Frontier Firm Is Born (Apr 2025)
Source quote
51% of managers say AI training or upskilling will become a key responsibility for their teams within five years.
- 22.
Only 38% of HR leaders expected AI to improve manager effectiveness, per an August 2025 Gartner survey of 114 HR leaders.
Gartner, Gartner Survey Reveals Poor Manager Quality the Top Driver of Employee Turnover in Australia (Nov 2025)
Source quote
An August 2025 Gartner survey of 114 HR leaders revealed skepticism around the impact of AI: Only 38% expect AI to improve manager effectiveness.
- 23.
Only 8% of HR leaders in the same August 2025 Gartner survey believed managers had the skills to use AI.
Gartner, Gartner Survey Reveals Poor Manager Quality the Top Driver of Employee Turnover in Australia (Nov 2025)
Source quote
Only 8% believe managers have the skills to use AI today.
The cost of early turnover
- 24.
Gallup estimates that replacing a frontline employee costs about 40% of salary, a technical professional 80% and a leader or manager around 200%, in research published in 2024.
Gallup, 42% of Employee Turnover Is Preventable but Often Ignored (Jul 2024)
Source quote
Gallup estimates that the replacement of leaders and managers costs around 200% of their salary, the replacement of professionals in technical roles is 80% of their salary, and frontline employees 40% of their salary.
- 25.
42% of US employees who voluntarily left a job in the past year said their manager or organization could have prevented it, per Gallup's 2024 study.
Gallup, 42% of Employee Turnover Is Preventable but Often Ignored (Jul 2024)
Source quote
An astounding 42% of employees who voluntarily left their organization in the past year report that their manager or organization could have done something to prevent them from leaving their job.
- 26.
45% of US voluntary leavers said no manager or leader discussed their job satisfaction, performance or future with them in the three months before they left, per Gallup's 2024 study.
Gallup, 42% of Employee Turnover Is Preventable but Often Ignored (Jul 2024)
Source quote
Nearly half (45%) of voluntary leavers report that neither a manager nor another leader proactively discussed their job satisfaction, performance or future with the organization with them in the three months before leaving.
- 27.
31% of US employees were engaged in the first half of 2026, unchanged since 2024 and down from 36% in 2020.
Gallup, Employee Engagement Remains Flat as AI Adoption Accelerates (2026)
Source quote
Engagement reached a recent high of 36% in 2020 before declining to 31% in 2024, where it has remained through the first half of 2026.
- 28.
In December 2025, 30% of employees said they would prefer to stay in their current job because of economic volatility, even with a better offer, per a Gartner survey of 3,072 employees.
Gartner, Gartner HR Research Finds 48% of Candidates Accepted Job Offers in 4Q25; Down From 85% Two Years Earlier (Jun 2026)
Source quote
In December 2025, Gartner surveyed 3,072 employees and found that 30% said they would prefer staying at their current job due to economic volatility, even if they were to receive a better offer.
- 29.
Employee intent to stay fell 19% over the two years to early 2026, according to a Gartner survey of 11,838 employees.
Gartner, Gartner HR Research Finds 48% of Candidates Accepted Job Offers in 4Q25; Down From 85% Two Years Earlier (Jun 2026)
Source quote
While employees are staying in their roles today, a 1Q26 Gartner survey of 11,838 employees found lower intent to stay in their roles, with intent to stay down 19% over the past two years, signaling potential for attrition when market confidence improves.
Chart
US employee engagement, 2020 to 2026
Share of US employees who are engaged, Gallup, 2020, 2024 and first half of 2026.
Source: Gallup, Employee Engagement Remains Flat as AI Adoption Accelerates
Hiring volume and job tenure
- 30.
US employers made 63.0 million hires in 2025, 1.5 million fewer than in 2024, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics JOLTS annual estimates.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Job Openings and Labor Turnover, January 2026 (Mar 2026)
Source quote
In 2025, the annual hires level was 63.0 million, a decrease of 1.5 million from 2024.
- 31.
US workers quit 38.0 million jobs in 2025, 1.3 million fewer than in 2024, and quits made up 60.6% of all separations, per BLS.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Job Openings and Labor Turnover, January 2026 (Mar 2026)
Source quote
Annual quits decreased by 1.3 million in 2025 to 38.0 million and accounted for 60.6 percent of total separations.
- 32.
Median tenure with the current employer for US wage and salary workers was 4.1 years in January 2026, up from 3.9 years in January 2024, according to BLS.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employee Tenure in 2026 (Sep 2026)
Source quote
The median number of years that wage and salary workers had been with their current employer was 4.1 years in January 2026, up from 3.9 years in January 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.
- 33.
20.6% of US wage and salary workers had been with their employer for a year or less in January 2026, down from 22.2% in January 2024, per BLS.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employee Tenure in 2026 (Sep 2026)
Source quote
In January 2026, the share of wage and salary workers with a year or less of tenure with their current employer was 20.6 percent, down from the proportion in January 2024 (22.2 percent).
- 34.
74.1% of US workers aged 16 to 19 had 12 months or less of tenure with their employer in January 2026, compared with 9.2% of workers aged 55 to 64.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employee Tenure in 2026 (Sep 2026)
Source quote
For example, in January 2026, 74.1 percent of 16- to 19-year-olds had tenure of 12 months or less with their current employer, compared with 9.2 percent of workers ages 55 to 64.
- 35.
Median tenure for US workers aged 25 to 34 was 3.0 years in January 2026, against 9.6 years for workers aged 55 to 64, per BLS.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employee Tenure in 2026 (Sep 2026)
Source quote
For example, the median tenure of workers ages 55 to 64 (9.6 years) was more than three times that of workers ages 25 to 34 (3.0 years).
- 36.
81% of employees surveyed worldwide for Microsoft's 2025 Work Trend Index had not changed jobs in the past year.
Microsoft, 2025: The Year the Frontier Firm Is Born (Apr 2025)
Source quote
And the market is frozen— 81% of employees haven’t changed jobs in the past year.
- 37.
60% of US new hires reported higher pay than in their previous role in ZipRecruiter's second quarter 2026 new hire survey.
ZipRecruiter, ZipRecruiter's New Hire Survey 2026 Q2 (May 2026)
Source quote
A rebalancing market is rewarding job switchers with a wage premium , with 60% of new hires reporting higher pay than their previous role.
Before day one: offers, reneging and candidate priorities
- 38.
35% of candidates backed out after accepting a job offer in the first quarter of 2025, down from 48% a year earlier, per a Gartner survey of nearly 3,000 candidates.
Gartner, Gartner HR Research Finds 44% of Prospective Candidates Received Multiple Job Offers in 1Q25 (Jun 2025)
Source quote
The 1Q25 Gartner survey of nearly 3,000 candidates conducted from January through March 2025 revealed that 35% of candidates backed out after accepting a job offer in 1Q25, compared to 48% of candidates who reneged after accepting a job offer in 1Q24.
- 39.
53% of candidates named higher compensation as their main reason for accepting an offer in early 2025, up 11 points from a year earlier, and 47% cited career growth, per Gartner.
Gartner, Gartner HR Research Finds 44% of Prospective Candidates Received Multiple Job Offers in 1Q25 (Jun 2025)
Source quote
Candidates are Prioritizing Compensation and Career Growth The 1Q25 Gartner survey revealed that 53% of respondents cited higher compensation as their main decision driver when accepting an offer (see Figure 1), up 11 points from 1Q24.followed closely by 47% who cited more opportunities for career growth.
- 40.
16% of US new hires had a job offer rescinded in ZipRecruiter's second quarter 2026 survey, rising to 39% for new hires in roles requiring AI skills.
ZipRecruiter, ZipRecruiter's New Hire Survey 2026 Q2 (May 2026)
Source quote
Rescinded offers have fallen to 16% overall, but hit 39% for new hires in roles requiring AI skills
- 41.
35% of US new hires encountered some form of AI during their interviews in the second quarter of 2026, up from 22% in the fourth quarter of 2025, per ZipRecruiter.
ZipRecruiter, ZipRecruiter's New Hire Survey 2026 Q2 (May 2026)
Source quote
More than one in three newly hired workers (35%, up from 22% in Q4) encountered some form of AI during their interview journey
- 42.
Only 30% of job candidates were open to AI-led interviews in the third quarter of 2025, and just 31% were told in advance they would face one, per a Gartner survey of 254 candidates.
Gartner, Gartner HR Research Finds 48% of Candidates Accepted Job Offers in 4Q25; Down From 85% Two Years Earlier (Jun 2026)
Source quote
AI interviews are also gaining traction, however, according to a 3Q25 Gartner survey of 254 job candidates, only 30% of candidates are open to AI-led interviews, and just 31% were informed in advance that they would be participating in one (see Figure 1).
- 43.
45% of frontline workers ranked their schedule among the top three factors in accepting their current job, second only to pay, per Workday's 2026 research.
Workday, New Research on Frontline Workers Finds Widening Expectation Gap in Schedule Flexibility, Pay Clarity and Digital Tools (Sep 2026)
Source quote
Recruiting : 45% of frontline workers rank their schedule among the top three factors in accepting their current job, second only to pay.
- 44.
54% of US employees rated a significant increase in income or benefits as very important when considering a new job in 2025, up from 41% before the pandemic.
Gallup, The Top 4 Reasons People Take a New Job (Feb 2025)
Source quote
Better pay and benefits remain a top concern, as the percentage of employees who rated it as very important rose from 41% pre-pandemic to 54% today.
Chart
Candidates who reneged after accepting a job offer
Share of candidates who backed out after accepting an offer, Gartner candidate surveys, first quarters of 2024 and 2025.
- 1Q2448%
- 1Q2535%
Source: Gartner, Gartner HR Research Finds 44% of Prospective Candidates Received Multiple Job Offers in 1Q25
Onboarding technology, AI and engagement
- 45.
41% of US small businesses planned AI investment in onboarding new employees in 2025, alongside recruiting at 44%.
Paychex, Survey Finds AI Is Empowering Small Businesses (Mar 2025)
Source quote
AI investments are also planned in recruiting (44%), onboarding new employees (41%), and employee retention (32%), underscoring that AI adoption in human resources functions, from the recruiting stage through career development, is a priority.
- 46.
95% of organizations had implemented AI in some form over the past year, but only one in five had realized significant value, per a late 2025 Gartner survey of 110 heads of HR.
Gartner, Gartner Survey Finds AI Automation Is Reducing Some Entry-Level Hiring at Nearly One Quarter of Organizations (Jul 2026)
Source quote
The 4Q25 Gartner survey of 110 heads of HR also found that 95% of organizations have implemented AI in some capacity over the last year, but only one-in-five has realized significant or transformational value.
- 47.
60% of employees said they received no AI training during onboarding, according to TalentLMS and BambooHR's 2025 survey.
TalentLMS and BambooHR, TalentLMS and BambooHR Survey Reveals Generational Gaps and AI Opportunities in Employee Onboarding (Jul 2025)
Source quote
However, 60% of all participants said they received no AI training during onboarding, presenting a critical opportunity for HR teams to embrace tech-driven learning tools.
- 48.
44% of Gen Z employees used AI tools to answer onboarding questions more often than asking a manager, compared with 14% of Baby Boomers, in the 2025 TalentLMS and BambooHR survey.
TalentLMS and BambooHR, TalentLMS and BambooHR Survey Reveals Generational Gaps and AI Opportunities in Employee Onboarding (Jul 2025)
Source quote
Gen Z was most likely (44%) to use AI tools to answer onboarding questions more often than asking a manager, followed by Millennials (37%), Gen X (29%), and Baby Boomers (14%).
- 49.
About 56% of US workers said they had used AI on the job for at least one of 11 tasks in the Census Bureau's March 2026 Household Trends and Outlook Pulse Survey.
U.S. Census Bureau, About a Third of Workers Who Used AI in the Last Week Said They Completed Tasks One to Two Hours Faster (Aug 2026)
Source quote
About 56% of U.S. workers said they have used Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the job for at least one of 11 tasks asked about on the U.S. Census Bureau’s March 2026 Household Trends and Outlook Pulse Survey (HTOPS).
- 50.
37% of US firms with at least 250 employees reported using AI in their business operations in Census Bureau survey data from December 2025 to May 2026.
U.S. Census Bureau, Large Firms With at Least 20 Employees Biggest AI Users (May 2026)
Source quote
For example, 37% of firms with at least 250 employees reported using AI in their business operations.
- 51.
70% of frontline workers said mobile tools are important, but only 53% were satisfied with the tools they have, per Workday's 2026 frontline worker research.
Workday, New Research on Frontline Workers Finds Widening Expectation Gap in Schedule Flexibility, Pay Clarity and Digital Tools (Sep 2026)
Source quote
Mobile tools are important to 70%, but only 53% are satisfied with what they have access to.
- 52.
US employees whose manager actively supports their team's AI use had a 48% engagement rate in the first half of 2026, compared with 30% among other employees, per Gallup.
Gallup, Employee Engagement Remains Flat as AI Adoption Accelerates (2026)
Source quote
Employees who say their manager actively supports their team’s use of AI have an engagement rate of 48%, compared with 30% among employees who do not say this — an 18-point difference.
- 53.
53% of workers who strongly agree their employer is investing in them were fully engaged in 2025, per ADP Research's global survey.
ADP Research, How engaged is the global workforce? (2026)
Source quote
Among workers who strongly agree that their employer is investing in them, 53 percent are fully engaged.
- 54.
Only 19% of workers worldwide were fully engaged in 2025, unchanged from 2024, according to ADP Research's global survey.
ADP Research, How engaged is the global workforce? (2026)
Source quote
Engagement across the globe Our survey found that only 19 percent of workers were fully engaged, a topline reading that was unchanged from 2024.
Chart
Employees who used AI to answer onboarding questions more often than asking a manager, 2025
Share of employees in each generation, TalentLMS and BambooHR survey released July 2025.
- Gen Z44%
- Millennials37%
- Gen X29%
- Baby Boomers14%
Source: TalentLMS and BambooHR, TalentLMS and BambooHR Survey Reveals Generational Gaps and AI Opportunities in Employee Onboarding
Questions readers ask
- How many companies do onboarding well?
- It depends on the bar. In a 2025 TalentLMS and BambooHR survey, 73% of employees were satisfied with onboarding, but only 68% felt prepared for success. Gallup's stricter 2018 measure found only 12% of employees strongly agreed their organization does a great job onboarding.
- How quickly do new hires decide if a job is right?
- Fast. BambooHR's 2023 study found 70% of new hires decide within the first month and 29% within the first week. In 2025, TalentLMS and BambooHR found 39% had second thoughts during onboarding, and ZipRecruiter found in 2026 that 78% of dissatisfied new hires planned to leave within a year.
- How many people start a new job each year in the US?
- The Bureau of Labor Statistics counted 63.0 million hires in 2025, down 1.5 million from 2024. In January 2026, 20.6% of US wage and salary workers had been with their employer for a year or less, and median tenure was 4.1 years.
- What does it cost to replace a new employee who leaves?
- Gallup estimates replacement costs at about 40% of salary for frontline employees, 80% for technical professionals and around 200% for leaders and managers. Gallup also found 42% of voluntary leavers said their exit could have been prevented.
- Does the manager matter in onboarding?
- Yes. Gallup found employees are 3.4 times as likely to rate onboarding as successful when their manager takes an active role, and new hires in the 2025 TalentLMS and BambooHR survey named manager support as the second biggest driver of belonging, at 48%.
- Are companies using AI for onboarding?
- Many plan to, but training lags. Paychex found 41% of US small businesses planned AI investment in onboarding in 2025, while TalentLMS and BambooHR found 60% of employees received no AI training during onboarding. Gartner found only one in five organizations had realized significant value from AI.
How these figures were chosen
We chose figures that bear on designing onboarding and choosing onboarding software, and checked each quote on the publisher's own page. Official data on hires, quits and tenure comes from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (JOLTS 2025 annual estimates and the January 2026 tenure supplement) and AI use from the US Census Bureau. Survey figures come from Gallup, Gartner, ADP Research, Microsoft and ZipRecruiter, and from vendors that sell HR or training software (BambooHR, TalentLMS, Paychex, Workday, Talogy), whose research may favor technology. Samples differ: some cover US employees, some new hires only, some HR leaders or candidates, and Microsoft and ADP Research survey workers in many countries. Gallup's onboarding baselines from 2018 to 2021 and BambooHR's 2023 study are kept and dated because no newer edition of those measures exists. Gallup's replacement cost figures are estimates. Every quote was copied from the publisher's page and re-checked by our source checker. Read the methodology.
Sources
- ADP Research. How engaged is the global workforce? (2026).
- BambooHR. 44% Of New Hires Regret their Decision Within a Week, BambooHR Study Finds (Sep 2023).
- Gallup. Why the Onboarding Experience Is Key for Retention (May 2018).
- Gallup. 8 Practical Tips for Leaders for a Better Onboarding Process (Aug 2021).
- Gallup. The Essential Ingredients of an Effective Onboarding Program (Jan 2019).
- Gallup. Employee Engagement Remains Flat as AI Adoption Accelerates (2026).
- Gallup. Manager Development (Feb 2026).
- Gallup. 42% of Employee Turnover Is Preventable but Often Ignored (Jul 2024).
- Gallup. The Top 4 Reasons People Take a New Job (Feb 2025).
- Gartner. Gartner Survey Reveals Poor Manager Quality the Top Driver of Employee Turnover in Australia (Nov 2025).
- Gartner. Gartner HR Research Finds 48% of Candidates Accepted Job Offers in 4Q25; Down From 85% Two Years Earlier (Jun 2026).
- Gartner. Gartner HR Research Finds 44% of Prospective Candidates Received Multiple Job Offers in 1Q25 (Jun 2025).
- Gartner. Gartner Survey Finds AI Automation Is Reducing Some Entry-Level Hiring at Nearly One Quarter of Organizations (Jul 2026).
- Microsoft. 2025: The Year the Frontier Firm Is Born (Apr 2025).
- Paychex. Survey Finds AI Is Empowering Small Businesses (Mar 2025).
- TalentLMS and BambooHR. First Day Fog: Onboarding Benchmarking Report for 2025 (Jul 2025).
- TalentLMS and BambooHR. TalentLMS and BambooHR Survey Reveals Generational Gaps and AI Opportunities in Employee Onboarding (Jul 2025).
- Talogy. Onboarding holds the secret to closing the 'revolving door' of hiring in US manufacturing, Talogy research finds (Mar 2026).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Job Openings and Labor Turnover, January 2026 (Mar 2026).
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Employee Tenure in 2026 (Sep 2026).
- U.S. Census Bureau. About a Third of Workers Who Used AI in the Last Week Said They Completed Tasks One to Two Hours Faster (Aug 2026).
- U.S. Census Bureau. Large Firms With at Least 20 Employees Biggest AI Users (May 2026).
- Workday. New Research on Frontline Workers Finds Widening Expectation Gap in Schedule Flexibility, Pay Clarity and Digital Tools (Sep 2026).
- ZipRecruiter. ZipRecruiter's New Hire Survey 2026 Q2 (May 2026).
How to cite
Link to this page or to a single figure. Name the original publisher where you can.
KeenVerdict. (2026, November 4). Employee Onboarding Statistics 2026. https://keenverdict.com/employee-onboarding-statistics
Questions or corrections: editorial@keenverdict.com. Next scheduled review: January 3, 2027.