APA Dictionary of Psychology

n. in industrial and organizational settings, the number of employees who leave their jobs during a given period. A distinction is generally made between controllable turnover, as by dismissal or voluntary resignation, and uncontrollable turnover, as by retirement or redundancy. The turnover rate is calculated by dividing controllable turnover by the average number of employees in the organization or unit during this period. This rate can be an indicator of the general level of job satisfaction among employees. Also called labor turnover; staff turnover. See involuntary turnover; voluntary turnover.