The median tenure for employees in the U.S. is 4.4 years, according to a Bureau of Labor Statistics survey. In the private sector, employees in the utilities industry had the longest tenure—an average of 9.1 years.
Every two years the Census Bureau for the Bureau of Labor Statistics surveys 60,000 households about how long they have been at their current job. The most recent survey was given in January 2010.
Survey data shows that telecommunications and durable goods manufacturing workers also stay on for long periods, with a median tenure of 6.6 years.
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The publishing industry hangs on to employees for longer as well, with employees reporting an average tenure of 5.6 years.
Accommodation and food services workers stay the least amount of time, with a median tenure of just 2.3 years. Slightly higher was management, administrative and waste services jobs, whose workers reported a median tenure of 2.9 years.
The arts, entertainment and recreation industry tied with retail trade, ranking for the third shortest tenure of only 3.3 years.
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