1. What is Vacancy Rate?

The vacancy rate is a metric that shows the percentage of all available positions in an organization that are currently unoccupied. It helps organizations understand their hiring needs and workforce planning.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the vacancy rate formula:

Where:

• \( \text{Vacancies} \) — Number of unfilled positions
• \( \text{Positions} \) — Total number of positions (filled + unfilled)

Explanation: The formula calculates what percentage of total positions are currently vacant.

3. Importance of Vacancy Rate

Details: Tracking vacancy rates helps organizations with workforce planning, budgeting, and identifying potential staffing issues. High vacancy rates may indicate hiring challenges, while very low rates might suggest overstaffing.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the number of current vacancies and total positions (must be ≥ vacancies). The calculator will compute the vacancy rate percentage.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a healthy vacancy rate?
A: This varies by industry, but typically 5-10% is considered normal for most organizations.

Q2: How often should vacancy rates be calculated?
A: Monthly or quarterly calculations are common for tracking trends over time.

Q3: Should temporary positions be included?
A: Generally, only permanent positions should be included in vacancy rate calculations.

Q4: What if vacancies exceed positions?
A: This shouldn't happen - positions should always be ≥ vacancies. The calculator validates this.

Q5: How does this differ from turnover rate?
A: Vacancy rate measures unfilled positions at a point in time, while turnover rate measures how often employees leave over a period.