#USA #San Francisco #Employee Retention #Workforce Management #Teambridge

New Research on Hourly Worker Retention

In a revealing new study, Teambridge, an AI-driven workforce management platform, has published its 2025 market research report titled "The Retention Puzzle: What Today's Workers Want and What Drives Them Away." The report focuses on the attitudes of hourly workers, sharing insights from over 1,000 respondents across various industries including healthcare, manufacturing, events, and long-term care.

The findings paint a troubling picture: despite a tight labor market, only 29% of hourly workers express intentions to remain with their current employers for the next year. This statistic challenges conventional beliefs about job security in times of economic uncertainty.

Trends Among Hourly Workers

The research underscores that hourly workers are not holding onto their jobs merely due to economic pressures. More importantly, the study reveals that these workers prioritize flexibility, reliable scheduling, and effective communication over compensation. A striking 50% of participants stated that benefits like flexible hours and dependable shift availability were critical to their employment decisions, overshadowing the importance of salary—which was a factor for 68%.

Additional statistics underscore the precariousness of worker retention:

• - Only 51% of hourly laborers feel empowered to control their schedules.
• - Nearly 39% reported having missed shifts or deadlines due to poor communication with management.
• - A particularly alarming figure shows that 50% of those identified as "retention-risk" workers—meaning they intend to leave their positions within 12 months—are affected by similar issues.

The ease of clocking in and out, immediate payment access, and transparent shift claims were also highlighted as essential wishes of the workforce. Tito Goldstein, co-founder of Teambridge, stresses the importance of making these essential workers' roles more reliable for the overall health of the U.S. economy, which relies heavily on this segment of the labor market that accounts for $7.5 trillion in annual output. Without these workers, the economy could face dire challenges, particularly since their roles cannot be easily supplanted by automation.

Addressing Support Gaps

Support remains an unaddressed gap, with over 85% of respondents indicating they needed assistance outside of business hours but could not obtain it. Faster pay is a compelling motivating factor for retention; 68% expressed they would remain at their job longer if they could access their wages immediately rather than adhering to conventional payment schedules, a sentiment particularly strong among those likely to leave their jobs.

The Tool and Tech Dilemma

The research further indicates that the technology provided for work can be a make-or-break factor, as 22% of the surveyed individuals reported quitting due to dissatisfaction with their tools. Improving communication via better tech systems is crucial in addressing turnover rates.

Industry-specific data illustrates that healthcare workers (52%) are the most affected by communication failures with management, while light industrial workers prioritize straightforward, practical tools for clocking in and out. Furthermore, workers in the events and venues sector also report a high percentage of missed assignments due to communication breakdowns.

A Call to Action for Employers

The study posits that a new value proposition focused on reliability is essential for employers and agencies to retain workers. Clear communication, predictable scheduling, and timely pay can significantly influence an employee's decision to stay with a company.

As the dynamics of the hourly workforce continue to change, the emphasis on reliability and support will only increase. Employers willing to adapt to these needs will be the ones to attract and retain top talent, leading to a more stable and productive workforce in the long term.

For those interested in a deeper dive into these findings, the complete report can be accessed at Teambridge. To learn more about how Teambridge can help in workforce management, visit their website.