GITNUXREPORT 2026

Hr In The Event Industry Statistics

Event companies face high turnover and struggle to hire and train skilled staff quickly.

Sarah Mitchell

Senior Researcher specializing in consumer behavior and market trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Statistic 1

Average salary for event managers: $65,000

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78% offer health insurance

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Bonus pay averages 15% of salary

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401k matching in 56% of firms

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PTO averages 18 days/year

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Overtime pay received by 82% staff

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Remote work stipend: $500 average

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49% provide wellness benefits

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Entry-level pay: $42,000/year

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Commission structures in 33% sales roles

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64% annual raises average 3.2%

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Parental leave: 12 weeks in 41% companies

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Tuition reimbursement: $5,250 avg

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70% offer flexible spending accounts

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Performance bonuses: 20% payout rate

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55% gym membership perks

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Equity shares in 12% startups

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67% satisfaction with total rewards

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Cost-of-living adjustments: 4% avg

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76% provide event tickets as perks

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41% of event industry is female

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28% ethnic minorities in event roles

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52% of leadership positions held by women

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LGBTQ+ representation: 12%

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65% prioritize DEI in hiring

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37% report inclusive culture improvements

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Age diversity: 40% under 30

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71% offer unconscious bias training

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Disability inclusion: 5% workforce

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48% track DEI metrics annually

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Veteran hires: 3% in events

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59% support employee resource groups

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Gender pay gap: 18% in events

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66% recruit from diverse universities

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BIPOC leadership: 22%

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54% measure supplier diversity

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73% see DEI boost business outcomes

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Neurodiversity initiatives in 19% firms

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62% promote inclusive event designs

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Intersectional DEI focus: 45%

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72% of event companies struggle with recruiting seasonal staff

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45% of HR managers in events use social media for hiring

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Average time to hire for event coordinators is 42 days

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58% of events firms increased hiring budgets in 2023

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61% prefer candidates with event-specific certifications

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39% of event HR report skills gaps in tech-savvy staff

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67% use freelance platforms for event staffing

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Entry-level event roles see 120 applicants per job

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54% of hires are referrals in events

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73% prioritize experience over education

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48% face higher costs for skilled event planners

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62% use AI tools in event recruitment

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Turnover during peak season affects 55% of hires

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69% seek multilingual staff for international events

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Cost per hire averages $4,200 in events

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51% report talent shortages post-pandemic

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76% use job boards specific to events

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44% hire interns for event support

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65% value hands-on experience most

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59% increased remote hiring for events

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Event industry turnover rate is 37%

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42% of event staff leave within first year

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Seasonal turnover peaks at 65%

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51% cite burnout as top retention issue

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Retention improves 28% with flexible hours

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39% voluntary turnover due to better pay elsewhere

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Average tenure for event planners: 2.8 years

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67% use stay interviews for retention

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Post-event turnover spikes 22%

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55% offer retention bonuses

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Turnover costs average $15,000 per employee

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46% improved retention via career paths

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Millennial turnover in events: 48%

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72% link recognition to lower turnover

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Exit interviews reveal workload as 60% factor

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44% turnover reduction with mentorship programs

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Female staff turnover 15% higher

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59% use pulse surveys for retention

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35% involuntary turnover rate

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Retention rate for certified staff: 82%

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53% of event staff receive 40 hours of onboarding training annually

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68% invest in digital event tech training

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Average training budget per employee is $1,200

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47% complete leadership development programs

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71% use online platforms for event staff training

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62% report improved skills after hybrid training

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55% prioritize safety and compliance training

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49% offer certifications like CMP

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Training ROI averages 250% in events

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74% conduct annual skills assessments

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66% focus on sustainability training

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52% use VR for event simulation training

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69% train on crisis management

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58% allocate 5% of payroll to training

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63% see 20% productivity boost from training

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48% partner with universities for training

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75% require DEI training modules

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Average training hours per staff: 32/year

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61% use gamification in training

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57% measure training via event success metrics

1/100

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While the spotlight may shine on the dazzling final product, the unseen reality for most event companies is a relentless struggle to build their teams, with 72% grappling to recruit seasonal staff and the cost of replacing a single employee averaging a staggering $15,000.

Key Takeaways

72% of event companies struggle with recruiting seasonal staff
45% of HR managers in events use social media for hiring
Average time to hire for event coordinators is 42 days
53% of event staff receive 40 hours of onboarding training annually
68% invest in digital event tech training
Average training budget per employee is $1,200
Event industry turnover rate is 37%
42% of event staff leave within first year
Seasonal turnover peaks at 65%
41% of event industry is female
28% ethnic minorities in event roles
52% of leadership positions held by women
Average salary for event managers: $65,000
78% offer health insurance
Bonus pay averages 15% of salary

Event companies face high turnover and struggle to hire and train skilled staff quickly.

Compensation and Benefits

Average salary for event managers: $65,000
78% offer health insurance
Bonus pay averages 15% of salary
401k matching in 56% of firms
PTO averages 18 days/year
Overtime pay received by 82% staff
Remote work stipend: $500 average
49% provide wellness benefits
Entry-level pay: $42,000/year
Commission structures in 33% sales roles
64% annual raises average 3.2%
Parental leave: 12 weeks in 41% companies
Tuition reimbursement: $5,250 avg
70% offer flexible spending accounts
Performance bonuses: 20% payout rate
55% gym membership perks
Equity shares in 12% startups
67% satisfaction with total rewards
Cost-of-living adjustments: 4% avg
76% provide event tickets as perks

Compensation and Benefits Interpretation

Event managers may not be rolling in cash, but with decent pay, a smorgasbord of perks, and a good shot at overtime, the industry seems to have mastered the art of compensating for chaos with a surprisingly well-rounded benefits package.

Diversity and Inclusion

41% of event industry is female
28% ethnic minorities in event roles
52% of leadership positions held by women
LGBTQ+ representation: 12%
65% prioritize DEI in hiring
37% report inclusive culture improvements
Age diversity: 40% under 30
71% offer unconscious bias training
Disability inclusion: 5% workforce
48% track DEI metrics annually
Veteran hires: 3% in events
59% support employee resource groups
Gender pay gap: 18% in events
66% recruit from diverse universities
BIPOC leadership: 22%
54% measure supplier diversity
73% see DEI boost business outcomes
Neurodiversity initiatives in 19% firms
62% promote inclusive event designs
Intersectional DEI focus: 45%

Diversity and Inclusion Interpretation

While celebrating that women now hold a majority of leadership roles and DEI is a stated priority for most, the industry's persistent gaps in pay, disability inclusion, and BIPOC leadership reveal a journey where good intentions are still racing to catch up with meaningful, intersectional action.

Recruitment and Hiring

72% of event companies struggle with recruiting seasonal staff
45% of HR managers in events use social media for hiring
Average time to hire for event coordinators is 42 days
58% of events firms increased hiring budgets in 2023
61% prefer candidates with event-specific certifications
39% of event HR report skills gaps in tech-savvy staff
67% use freelance platforms for event staffing
Entry-level event roles see 120 applicants per job
54% of hires are referrals in events
73% prioritize experience over education
48% face higher costs for skilled event planners
62% use AI tools in event recruitment
Turnover during peak season affects 55% of hires
69% seek multilingual staff for international events
Cost per hire averages $4,200 in events
51% report talent shortages post-pandemic
76% use job boards specific to events
44% hire interns for event support
65% value hands-on experience most
59% increased remote hiring for events

Recruitment and Hiring Interpretation

Despite a frenzied scramble for seasonal staff, a heavy reliance on referrals, and a costly, 42-day hiring marathon for a single coordinator, the event industry is doubling down on its old playbook—prioritizing gritty experience over fresh credentials while cautiously flirting with AI and remote hiring to bridge its persistent tech-savvy and multilingual talent gaps.

Retention and Turnover

Event industry turnover rate is 37%
42% of event staff leave within first year
Seasonal turnover peaks at 65%
51% cite burnout as top retention issue
Retention improves 28% with flexible hours
39% voluntary turnover due to better pay elsewhere
Average tenure for event planners: 2.8 years
67% use stay interviews for retention
Post-event turnover spikes 22%
55% offer retention bonuses
Turnover costs average $15,000 per employee
46% improved retention via career paths
Millennial turnover in events: 48%
72% link recognition to lower turnover
Exit interviews reveal workload as 60% factor
44% turnover reduction with mentorship programs
Female staff turnover 15% higher
59% use pulse surveys for retention
35% involuntary turnover rate
Retention rate for certified staff: 82%

Retention and Turnover Interpretation

The event industry essentially runs on a leaky faucet of talent, where over one-third of staff annually pour out citing burnout and pay, yet simple fixes like flexibility and recognition could almost plug the hole if anyone had time to install them.

Training and Development

53% of event staff receive 40 hours of onboarding training annually
68% invest in digital event tech training
Average training budget per employee is $1,200
47% complete leadership development programs
71% use online platforms for event staff training
62% report improved skills after hybrid training
55% prioritize safety and compliance training
49% offer certifications like CMP
Training ROI averages 250% in events
74% conduct annual skills assessments
66% focus on sustainability training
52% use VR for event simulation training
69% train on crisis management
58% allocate 5% of payroll to training
63% see 20% productivity boost from training
48% partner with universities for training
75% require DEI training modules
Average training hours per staff: 32/year
61% use gamification in training
57% measure training via event success metrics

Training and Development Interpretation

While the event industry clearly bets big on training—with most staff getting substantial onboarding, many embracing digital and hybrid methods, and nearly all seeing a strong return on investment—the real showstopper is that three-quarters now mandate DEI training, proving that the business of bringing people together is finally learning to include everyone properly.

Sources & References

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