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The Facts on TSO Attrition Rates

Focus on People

Through active engagement of its security officer workforce via a National Advisory Council, TSA has undertaken a number of workplace quality initiatives focused on improvements to the Transportation Security Officer (TSO) workforce in three areas: 1) career path and career progression; 2) quality of work life/employee engagement; and 3) pay for performance.

As a result of these and other initiatives, voluntary attrition for full-time TSOs is 11.1%, a 18.3 percent decline from FY04. Part-time TSO voluntary attrition has been reduced by 36.4 percent in that same period.

This is compared to a 140 percent turn-over rate for baggage screeners that the FAA was reporting in 1998. Employer retention has a direct impact on the level of security provided. A stable, mature and experienced workforce is the most effective tool we have in fighting the war on terror.

Moreover, "quit rates" for the TSO workforce are lower than that for the private sector overall and the "transportation, warehousing and utilities" portion of the private sector (comparative DOL industry category).