{"id":4998,"date":"2026-01-19T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/cicp-pcpob\/?p=4998"},"modified":"2026-02-10T16:57:54","modified_gmt":"2026-02-10T21:57:54","slug":"from-crisis-to-caution-tracking-turnover","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/cicp-pcpob\/2026\/from-crisis-to-caution-tracking-turnover\/","title":{"rendered":"From Crisis to Caution? Tracking Turnover"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"w-screen px-6 cu-section cu-section--white ml-offset-center md:px-8 lg:px-14\">\n    <div class=\"space-y-6 cu-max-w-child-5xl  md:space-y-10 cu-prose-first-last\">\n\n            <div class=\"cu-textmedia flex flex-col lg:flex-row mx-auto gap-6 md:gap-10 my-6 md:my-12 first:mt-0 max-w-5xl\">\n        <div class=\"justify-start cu-textmedia-content cu-prose-first-last\" style=\"flex: 0 0 100%;\">\n            <header class=\"font-light prose-xl cu-pageheader md:prose-2xl cu-component-updated cu-prose-first-last\">\n                                    <h1 class=\"cu-prose-first-last font-semibold !mt-2 mb-4 md:mb-6 relative after:absolute after:h-px after:bottom-0 after:bg-cu-red after:left-px text-3xl md:text-4xl lg:text-5xl lg:leading-[3.5rem] pb-5 after:w-10 text-cu-black-700 not-prose\">\n                        From Crisis to Caution? Tracking Turnover \n                    <\/h1>\n                \n                                \n                            <\/header>\n\n                    <\/div>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<p>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/cicp-pcpob\/2025\/understanding-the-hr-crisis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">recent blog<\/a>, we explored the deepening HR crisis in Canada\u2019s charitable sector, drawing on data from the Charity Insights Canada Project (CICP). Between 2023 and 2024, turnover rates among employees surged, driven by low pay, burnout, and systemic underfunding. One year later, new data from 2025 suggests a more positive shift, though not necessarily a resolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"turnover-trends-a-notable-improvement\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Turnover Trends: A Notable Improvement<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>In 2024, 39% of charities reported high turnover (defined as more than 20% of staff leaving), up from 27% in 2023. However, the 2025 data show a significant drop to 20%. At the same time, the proportion of organizations reporting no turnover rose from 21% in 2024 to 35% in 2025, while those experiencing low turnover increased slightly from 41% to 45%. This data represents a notable slowing of turnover at charitable organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><td><strong>Turnover Level<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/td><td><strong>2023<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/td><td><strong>2024<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/td><td><strong>2025<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/td><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>No Turnover<\/td><td>23%<\/td><td>21%<\/td><td>35%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Low Turnover<\/td><td>50%<\/td><td>41%<\/td><td>45%<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>High Turnover<\/td><td>27%<\/td><td>39%<\/td><td>20%<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>(Excludes \u2018Not applicable\u2019 and \u2018Not sure\u2019 responses)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"concerns-remain-recruitment-still-difficult\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Concerns Remain: Recruitment Still Difficult<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite the improvement in turnover rates, employers in the sector are still concerned about workforce stability, particularly around staff departures and recruitment challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Anxiety about turnover <\/strong>is still present:&nbsp;<strong>36.5%<\/strong>&nbsp;of charities reported being&nbsp;<em>somewhat concerned<\/em>, and&nbsp;<strong>18.5%<\/strong>&nbsp;were&nbsp;<em>very concerned<\/em>&nbsp;about staff departures. This reflects ongoing anxiety about losing experienced personnel and the impact it can have on organizational continuity.<br><em>(Excludes \u2018Not applicable\u2019 and \u2018Not sure\u2019 responses)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Recruitment difficulty<\/strong>&nbsp;is a separate but equally pressing issue:&nbsp;<strong>36%<\/strong>&nbsp;of charities said hiring new staff was&nbsp;<em>somewhat difficult<\/em>, while&nbsp;<strong>19%<\/strong>&nbsp;found it&nbsp;<em>very difficult<\/em>. These figures suggest that even as turnover slows, finding the time and money to replace staff remains a significant hurdle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As one organization reported:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"not-prose cu-quote cu-component-spacing\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>&#8220;We have had an extremely hard time finding qualified part-time staff for our church. We struggle to know where to post jobs and where to look for candidates.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Retention remains the goal because recruitment is competitive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"why-are-employees-leaving\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Are Employees Leaving?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The top reasons for employee turnover are consistent with previous CICP surveys: low remuneration and benefits, and burnout from overwhelming workloads. Notably, one panellist recognized their organization\u2019s situation within the sector:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"not-prose cu-quote cu-component-spacing\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>&#8220;We are a beginner&#8217;s workplace, I can&#8217;t afford to keep good people, but I can train them and encourage them to apply at other places that will pay more.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Many charities serve as stepping stones for early-career professionals who leave for more secure, better-paying roles. This comment highlights the need for long-term investment in staffing, organizational capacity, and sector-wide solutions. One panellist explains their staff model:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"not-prose cu-quote cu-component-spacing\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>&#8220;I would love to have more permanent staff, but we do not receive enough core funding to maintain a staffing model that meets the full scope of our purpose, so we have to piecemeal it with short-term contracts made possible by other sources of funding.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>Unstable funding often forces organizations to rely on short-term contracts, prompting employees to seek more secure permanent employment elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"why-do-employees-stay\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Do Employees Stay?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite the challenges, some staff remain at supportive workplaces in part because of their commitment to the work. We received positive comments from several organizations:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"not-prose cu-quote cu-component-spacing\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>&#8220;All of our staff are deeply mission-driven\u2014true unicorns who persevere through an immense workload and fast pace, motivated by their genuine love for the children we serve. This dedication is the heart of our organization.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"not-prose cu-quote cu-component-spacing\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>&#8220;We place great emphasis on developing a healthy, supportive culture in the workplace that creates an environment that people want to be part of.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h4 id=\"looking-ahead\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Looking Ahead<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>With the slowing of the turnover, the 2025 data offers cautious optimism. But the HR crisis in the charitable sector is far from over. Recruitment difficulties, ongoing burnout, and systemic funding challenges continue to threaten the sector\u2019s sustainability. And the passion for making a difference should not be a substitute for fair compensation and decent working conditions. As one panellist states: \u201cPassion for the cause will not pay bills.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Charities are the heart of community support in Canada, and their workers are the backbone of these organizations. Addressing turnover and recruitment challenges is not just a matter of operational efficiency; it\u2019s about ensuring that organizations can continue to deliver essential services to communities across the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The CICP will continue to track employee turnover and workforce trends, providing data-driven insights to support policy, funding, and strategic planning across the charitable landscape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"w-screen px-6 cu-section cu-section--white ml-offset-center md:px-8 lg:px-14\">\n    <div class=\"space-y-6 cu-max-w-child-5xl  md:space-y-10 cu-prose-first-last\">\n\n                            \n\n\n<header class=\"mb-6 cu-pageheader cu-component-updated md:mb-12\">\n    <h2 id=\"author\" class=\"cu-prose-first-last font-semibold !mt-2 mb-4 md:mb-6 relative text-2xl md:text-3xl lg:text-4xl lg:leading-[3rem] pb-4 after:w-8 after:absolute after:h-px after:bottom-0 after:bg-cu-red after:left-px\">\n        Author\n    <\/h2>\n\n    <\/header>\n        \n        <div class=\"cu-column cu-component not-contained mx-auto grid max-w-5xl md:grid-cols-3 gap-6 md:gap-10\">\n            \n\n    \n    <div class=\"not-prose cu-card rounded-lg @container md:max-w-xl flex flex-col gap-3 bg-white shadow-lg shadow-cu-black-100 text-center group duration-300 ease-in hover:scale-[1.02] hover:shadow-cu-black-200\">\n                    <figure class=\"px-6 pt-8 pb-2 mb-2 overflow-hidden rounded-t-lg cu-figure--round\">\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"\n                src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/cicp-pcpob\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/McWhinney-Pic-scaled-aspect-ratio-200-200-1-rotated.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"200\" \/>\n                                <\/figure>\n        \n        <header class=\"px-6 first:mt-6\">\n            <h2 class=\"text-lg font-semibold text-cu-black @sm:md:text-xl leading-6 @sm:md:leading-8\">\n                                    McWhinney, Tara\n                            <\/h2>\n        <\/header>\n\n        <div class=\"flex flex-col px-6\">\n            <ul class=\"space-y-2 text-sm text-cu-black-700 @sm:md:text-base\">\n                                    <li class=\"text-base @sm:md:text-lg italic\">\n                        Postdoctoral Fellow\n                    <\/li>\n                \n                                    <li>\n                        <strong class=\"font-semibold break-all text-cu-red-700 hover:underline\">\n                            <a href=\"mailto:taramcwhinney@cunet.carleton.ca\">\n                                Email\n                                Tara\n                            <\/a>\n                        <\/strong>\n                    <\/li>\n                \n                            <\/ul>\n        <\/div>\n\n                    <footer class=\"px-6 pt-3 mt-auto text-white md:pt-5\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/cicp-pcpob\/people\/tara-mcwhinney\/\" class=\"cu-button cu-button--red cu-button--small\">\n                    View Profile\n                <\/a>\n            <\/footer>\n            <\/div>\n\n\n        <\/div>\n\n        \n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<p>Want to receive our blog posts directly to your email?&nbsp; 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It is embedded in grant applications, strategic plans, and funder conversations as a signal of seriousness\n                                    &#8230;\n                            <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    \n    <footer class=\"px-6 pt-3 mt-auto md:pt-5\">\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/cicp-pcpob\/2026\/evaluation-is-about-learning-not-just-compliance\/\" class=\"cu-button cu-button--red cu-button--small\">\n            Read news\n            <span class=\"sr-only\">\n                post\n                Measuring What Matters: Rethinking Impact Evaluation\n            <\/span>\n        <\/a>\n    <\/footer>\n<\/div>\n\n            \n                    \n\n<div class=\"not-prose cu-card rounded-lg @container md:max-w-xl flex flex-col gap-3 bg-white shadow-lg shadow-cu-black-100 group duration-300 ease-in hover:scale-[1.02] hover:shadow-cu-black-200\">\n\n            <figure class=\"mb-2 overflow-hidden rounded-t-lg\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/cicp-pcpob\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2026\/02\/CICP-Blog-images-1-600x400.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" \/>\n        <\/figure>\n    \n    \n        <header class=\"flex flex-col gap-3  px-6 first:mt-6\">\n        <div class=\"flex flex-row w-full gap-1\">\n                        <time datetime=\"2026-02-11T19:00:00-05:00\" class=\"block italic text-sm text-cu-black-600\">\n        February 12, 2026\n    <\/time>\n\n                    <\/div>        \n        \n    \n    <h2 class=\"line-clamp-3 text-lg font-semibold text-cu-black @sm:md:text-xl leading-6 @sm:md:leading-8\">\n        Setting Priorities, Building Strength: How Charities Are Entering 2026\n    <\/h2>\n\n            <\/header>\n\n\n            <div class=\"flex flex-col px-6 dark:text-white\">\n            <p class=\"text-base text-cu-black-700 dark:text-white \">\n                The CICP\u2019s analysis of its first survey of 2025 captured a charitable sector caught in the cross-currents of economic instability, political uncertainty, and escalating community\n                                    &#8230;\n                            <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    \n    <footer class=\"px-6 pt-3 mt-auto md:pt-5\">\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/cicp-pcpob\/2026\/setting-priorities-building-strength-how-charities-are-entering-2026\/\" class=\"cu-button cu-button--red cu-button--small\">\n            Read news\n            <span class=\"sr-only\">\n                post\n                Setting Priorities, Building Strength: How Charities Are Entering 2026\n            <\/span>\n        <\/a>\n    <\/footer>\n<\/div>\n\n            \n                    \n\n<div class=\"not-prose cu-card rounded-lg @container md:max-w-xl flex flex-col gap-3 bg-white shadow-lg shadow-cu-black-100 group duration-300 ease-in hover:scale-[1.02] hover:shadow-cu-black-200\">\n\n            <figure class=\"mb-2 overflow-hidden rounded-t-lg\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/cicp-pcpob\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/26\/2025\/12\/Blog-image-3-600x400.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" \/>\n        <\/figure>\n    \n    \n        <header class=\"flex flex-col gap-3  px-6 first:mt-6\">\n        <div class=\"flex flex-row w-full gap-1\">\n                        <time datetime=\"2026-01-18T19:00:00-05:00\" class=\"block italic text-sm text-cu-black-600\">\n        January 19, 2026\n    <\/time>\n\n                    <\/div>        \n        \n    \n    <h2 class=\"line-clamp-3 text-lg font-semibold text-cu-black @sm:md:text-xl leading-6 @sm:md:leading-8\">\n        From Crisis to Caution? Tracking Turnover\n    <\/h2>\n\n            <\/header>\n\n\n            <div class=\"flex flex-col px-6 dark:text-white\">\n            <p class=\"text-base text-cu-black-700 dark:text-white \">\n                In a recent blog, we explored the deepening HR crisis in Canada\u2019s charitable sector, drawing on data from the Charity Insights Canada Project (CICP). Between\n                                    &#8230;\n                            <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n    \n    <footer class=\"px-6 pt-3 mt-auto md:pt-5\">\n        <a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/cicp-pcpob\/2026\/from-crisis-to-caution-tracking-turnover\/\" class=\"cu-button cu-button--red cu-button--small\">\n            Read news\n            <span class=\"sr-only\">\n                post\n                From Crisis to Caution? Tracking Turnover\n            <\/span>\n        <\/a>\n    <\/footer>\n<\/div>\n\n                    \n        <\/div>\n        \n                                    \n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In a recent blog, we explored the deepening HR crisis in Canada\u2019s charitable sector, drawing on data from the Charity Insights Canada Project (CICP). Between 2023 and 2024, turnover rates among employees surged, driven by low pay, burnout, and systemic underfunding. One year later, new data from 2025 suggests a more positive shift, though not [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":90,"featured_media":4987,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[75],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4998","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog-posts-en"],"acf":{"cu_post_thumbnail":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/cicp-pcpob\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4998","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/cicp-pcpob\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/cicp-pcpob\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/cicp-pcpob\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/90"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/cicp-pcpob\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4998"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/cicp-pcpob\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4998\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5041,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/cicp-pcpob\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4998\/revisions\/5041"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/cicp-pcpob\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4987"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/cicp-pcpob\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4998"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/cicp-pcpob\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4998"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/cicp-pcpob\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4998"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}