Attrition refers to the number or rate at which people leave an organization, resulting in a decline in the workforce. Turnover, on the other hand, is defined as a change in the workforce due to accessions, quits, discharges, and layoffs. The key distinction between attrition and turnover lies in the fact that attrition is associated with a declining workforce, whereas turnover is related to a stable or expanding workforce.
The general measure of turnover is typically expressed as a percentage, calculated by dividing the number of separations by the total number of workers on the payroll. For example, if 10,000 employees left a workforce of 5,000, the turnover rate would be calculated as follows: 10,000/5000 = 10/5 = 2/1 = 200%.
Cheers,
K