When employees depart Inc. 500 companies, they most frequently land in a competitor's company or in a different field altogether. The next most common destination is school, which also represents an exit from a particular industry. So employers might be able to cut turnover significantly by doing a better job of making sure the interests and goals of their hires are well matched with the industry itself.
Reason employees left company . . .
Joined competitors 28%
Changed fields 28%
Left to attend school 11.9%
Went to work for vendors 9.2%
Moved out of area 4.6%
Died 4.6%
Retired 4.6%
Laid off 4.6%
Other 3.6%
Source: Based on a survey of Inc. 500 Conference attendees, June 1991.