>EBRI News Release
>
>
>FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 18, 1999
>
>New EBRI Research:
>
>Male, Female Job Stability Still Moving in Opposite Directions
>
>WASHINGTON, DC-While overall job stability in the U.S. has not changed
>dramatically in recent years, men appear to be continuing a 15-year trend of
>shorter job tenure, while women generally have higher job tenure than 15
>years ago, according to a new article by the nonpartisan Employee Benefit
>Research Institute (EBRI).
>
>Although the length of time that men stay with the same employer has dropped
>during the last 15 years, their tenure levels today are roughly comparable
>with those of past decades, while women's job tenure levels have risen
>consistently over time, the study found. EBRI, based in Washington, DC, is a
>nonadvocacy research group that focuses on retirement and health issues.
>
>The article points out that "lifetime" jobs never existed for most workers,
>and that a fair amount of job-churning has always characterized the American
>work place. Moreover, the recent decrease in job security (i.e., involuntary
>job turnover) has mainly affected workers who were immune to it in the
>past-those who are older, more educated, highly skilled, and more highly
>paid-which may explain the heightened media and public attention to the
>issue.
>
>"As job churning works its way into all sectors of the economy, a clearer
>picture is emerging of the need for American workers to personally plan for
>their retirement income security," said EBRI President and CEO Dallas
>Salisbury. "Preservation of vested assets for retirement remains an issue
>for job changers, particularly for the many young workers who do not realize
>what these dollars, if saved, could become at retirement."
>
>The article, published in the February issue of EBRI Notes, analyzes the
>most recent job tenure data and discusses their implications for workers'
>retirement income security. It is based on EBRI compilations of the U.S.
>Bureau of Labor Statistics' tabulations of the periodic tenure supplements
>of the Current Population Survey.
>
>Among the study's major findings:
>
>Between 1983 and 1998, median job tenure dropped by four years among men
>ages 55-64, by over three years among those ages 45-54, by nearly two years
>among those ages 35-44, and by less than half a year among those ages 25-34.
>
>In 1998, median tenure levels for female workers were generally higher than
>or nearly equal to their 1983 levels. From 1983 to 1998, tenure increased by
>almost one year for those ages 45-54, by less than half a year for those
>ages 35-44, and decreased by less than half a year for those ages 25-34 and
>55-64.
>>From 1983 through 1998, the fraction of all wage and salary workers with two
>years or less of tenure with their current employer ranged from 36 percent
>to 39 percent. In 1998, 37 percent of these workers (40.8 million out of
>109.4 million) had been with their current employer for two years or less.
>Over the period 1983-1998, the fraction of all wage and salary workers with
>20 or more years of tenure with their current employer remained consistently
>around 10 percent. In 1998, 9.5 percent of workers had been on the same job
>for 20 years or more.
>>From a policy perspective, it can be argued that that the benefit accrual
>patterns and portability features of today's retirement plans are better
>suited to the American work experience than those of earlier plans. However,
>job turnover and changes in job stability still make vesting of accrued
>retirement benefits and preservation of vested benefits key concerns for
>plans sponsors, service providers, and policymakers.
>EBRI Notes(tm) is a monthly periodical providing up-to-date information on a
>variety of employee topics. Members of the press may request complimentary
>copies of EBRI Notes No. 2, which features "Male and Female Tenure Continues
>to Move in Opposite Directions," from Alicia Willis at (202) 775-9132.
>Reporters may also obtain an executive summary of the article at . Full text
>copies of the article are available online by contacting Danny Devine (202)
>775-6308, e-mail: for the "press only" password. Others may purchase copies
>for $25 prepaid by calling (410) 516-6946.
>
>EBRI is a private, nonprofit, nonpartisan organization based in Washington,
>DC. Founded in 1978, its mission is to contribute to, to encourage, and to
>enhance the development of sound employee benefit programs and sound public
>policy through objective research and education. EBRI does not lobby and
>does not take positions on legislative proposals.