Retention Sentiment Drops as Generational Gap Hits Record 22.3 Points
Image
Washington, D.C. – October 07, 2026 -- Baby Boomers' likelihood of staying with their employers fell 6.3 points to 90.5 in the third quarter, while Gen Z's retention outlook rose to 112.8, producing a record 22.3-point generational gap, according to the Eagle Hill Consulting Employee Retention Index.
Culture scores erase a year of gains across the workforce
The Culture Indicator dropped 3.1 points to 100.9, the steepest decline among the Index's four components and nearly wiping out 12 months of improvement. Gen X employees reported a 7-point culture decline, Baby Boomers 5.5 points and Gen Z 3.1 points; Millennials were the only cohort to improve, gaining 1 point. Women's culture sentiment fell 3.6 points versus 1.6 points for men.