Why This Measure Matters​

Average tenure captures employee longevity and the County’s ability to sustain an experienced, knowledgeable workforce. Longer tenure generally signals engagement, satisfaction, and effective retention practices. Maintaining a healthy tenure range ensures a balanced workforce that combines fresh ideas with institutional expertise—supporting both our recruitment and long-term retention goals.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average tenure for local government employees is 6.4 years.  In 2025, the average Skagit County employee tenure sat at 9.47 years.  With additional planned retirements for long-tenured employees, we expect this average will continue to steadily decrease as we continue to experience the “silver tsunami” retirement of the baby-boomer generation.

What’s the Story?​

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average tenure for local government employees is 6.4 years.  In 2024 the average Skagit County employee tenure sits at 9.58 years.  With additional planned retirements for long-tenured employees, this average will continue to steadily decrease as we continue to experience the “silver tsunami” retirement of the baby-boomer generation.

Target

8 years

Reporting Frequency​

Annually