1. What is the Staff Vacancy Rate?

The staff vacancy rate is a metric that measures the percentage of unfilled positions in an organization compared to the total number of authorized positions. It helps organizations understand their staffing challenges and workforce planning needs.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the vacancy rate formula:

Where:

• Vacant Positions — Number of unfilled positions
• Total Positions — Total number of authorized positions (filled + vacant)

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

3. Importance of Vacancy Rate Calculation

Details: Tracking vacancy rates helps organizations identify staffing issues, plan recruitment strategies, assess workload impacts, and evaluate organizational health.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the number of vacant positions and total authorized positions. Both values must be non-negative, and vacant positions cannot exceed total positions.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is a good vacancy rate?
A: Ideal rates vary by industry, but generally 5-8% is considered healthy. Rates above 10% may indicate serious staffing challenges.

Q2: How often should vacancy rates be calculated?
A: Most organizations calculate monthly or quarterly to track trends over time.

Q3: Should temporary positions be included?
A: Only include positions that are part of your permanent authorized staffing complement.

Q4: What if positions are temporarily filled?
A: Positions filled by temporary workers or contractors are typically still considered vacant for this calculation.

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