of new managers underperform during their first two years
First-Time Manager Statistics
Comprehensive first-time manager statistics on training, performance, and leadership development impact
Key insights
the numbers most people quoteof all new managers receive no training when transitioning into leadership
of employee engagement is attributable to the manager
- 50%
of employees who quit do so because of their manager
Only 10% of people naturally possess high managerial talent
Organizations with strong leadership programs are 4.4x more likely to achieve goals
Poor leadership accounts for 77% of workplace disengagement
Companies with manager development have 29% higher revenue growth
Practice the conversation before it counts.
Try itWhat we read into it
- 57%
of employees cite lack of manager support as the top reason for leaving their jobs
- 75%
of employees have left a job due to their boss
- 69%
of employees would work harder if they felt their efforts were better recognized
Companies with highly engaged employees outperform competitors by 147% in earnings per share
Managers account for 70% of the variance in employee engagement scores
Organizations with effective leaders are 50% more likely to have positive employee sentiment
Poor leadership accounts for 77% of disengagement in the workplace
- 70%
of employee engagement is attributable to the manager
What we read into it
- 35%
of all new managers receive no training when they transition into their first leadership role
- 60%
of new managers underperform during their first two years
Organizations with high-quality management development programs are 1.5 times more likely to report above-average financial success
Companies that invest in comprehensive leadership development programs experience 92% higher employee retention rates compared to those that don't
Organizations with strong leadership development programs are 4.4 times more likely to achieve their goals
Only 34% of HR leaders believe their organizations are effective at developing next gen leaders
- 58%
of managers report lacking proper training to manage remote or hybrid teams effectively
Companies that excel at manager development have 29% higher revenue growth
What we read into it
The global e-learning market size was valued at USD 250 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow significantly
- 62%
of organizations are increasing their investment in HR technology, including learning and development platforms
Microlearning approaches can improve engagement by 50% and knowledge retention by 20%
- 85%
of HR professionals believe that AI will transform learning and development by 2025
- 70%
of companies are using or planning to use AI-powered learning tools
The global corporate learning management system market size is projected to reach USD 30.7 billion by 2030
- 72%
of employees believe that their learning and development should be personalized
Companies with an advanced digital learning strategy achieve 25% higher profit margins
What we read into it
The global e-learning market size was valued at USD 250 billion in 2023 with management training as a key component
The global corporate learning management system market size is projected to reach USD 30.7 billion by 2030
The digital coaching market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 20% from 2021-2028
Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality in corporate training are projected to grow at a CAGR of over 30% by 2028
- 71%
of organizations plan to increase their investment in digital skilling initiatives over the next 12 months
- 62%
of organizations are increasing their investment in HR technology, including learning and development platforms
Nearly 90% of HR leaders say that skill development is a top priority, driving investment in digital platforms
Companies that excel at manager development have 29% higher revenue growth
What we read into it
- 72%
of employees believe that their learning and development should be personalized
- 69%
of employees would work harder if they felt their efforts were better recognized
- 55%
of employees prefer learning at their own pace from relevant content
Only 20% of employees feel their company offers highly personalized and flexible learning
Companies implementing digital feedback tools for managers see a 14% improvement in employee performance
Video-based learning improves retention rates by 68% compared to text-based learning
Microlearning approaches can improve engagement by 50% and knowledge retention by 20%
Personalized learning paths lead to a 40% increase in skill development
Industry Insights
8 of 20 statisticsWhat we read into it
In the tech industry, 40% of new managers feel unprepared for the scope of their leadership responsibilities
Healthcare organizations with high-performing managers experience a 15% reduction in nurse turnover
Retail managers who complete comprehensive development programs achieve 10% higher sales per employee
Manufacturing sector managers who receive adequate training reduce employee safety incidents by up to 25%
In financial services, 30% of high-potential employees decline a management role due to perceived lack of support and training
Government agencies that invest in leadership development for new managers see a 7% increase in public service satisfaction scores
8 in 10 managers in the remote-first tech sector report difficulty in building team cohesion
Hospitality industry front-line managers have the highest turnover rate among all management levels at 35% annually
Cite this report
Lindner, J. (2026). First-Time Manager Statistics. Careertrainer. https://careertrainer.ai/en/reports/first-time-manager-statistics/
Sources
last verified 26 Apr 2026- gartner.com11 stats
- mckinsey.com9 stats
- pwc.com9 stats
- deloitte.com8 stats
- accenture.com8 stats
- forbes.com7 stats
- gallup.com6 stats
- statista.com5 stats
- www2.deloitte.com4 stats
- grandviewresearch.com4 stats
- businessofgovernment.org3 stats
- salesforce.com3 stats
- shrm.org2 stats
- quantumworkplace.com2 stats
- ddiworld.com2 stats
- conference-board.org2 stats
- microsoft.com2 stats
- linkedin.com2 stats
- fosway.com2 stats
- mordorintelligence.com2 stats
- towardsmaturity.org2 stats
- elearningindustry.com2 stats
- degreed.com2 stats
- verifiedmarketresearch.com2 stats
- weforum.org2 stats
- svlg.org2 stats
- advisory.com2 stats
- osha.gov2 stats
- buffer.com2 stats
- hvs.com2 stats
- nsc.org2 stats
- ey.com2 stats
- workinstitute.com1 stats
- ukg.com1 stats
- inc.com1 stats
How we collect and check these numbers
Each figure is taken from a published source with a reachable URL. We keep the original wording, group numbers by theme, and mark one counter-intuitive finding per section. Counts and sources on this page are derived from the cited rows — they are not marketing totals.