How to calculate Headcount Growth Rate

Formula

Headcount growth rate = (headcount at end − headcount at start) ÷ headcount at start

SQL query

This example assumes: employees(id, start_date date, end_date date). It is written in PostgreSQL syntax; date functions differ slightly in MySQL, BigQuery and SQLite, and your column names will differ from these.

SELECT end_hc.headcount AS headcount_now,
       start_hc.headcount AS headcount_a_year_ago,
       (end_hc.headcount - start_hc.headcount)::numeric / NULLIF(start_hc.headcount, 0) AS growth_rate
FROM (SELECT COUNT(*) AS headcount
      FROM employees
      WHERE start_date <= CURRENT_DATE AND (end_date IS NULL OR end_date > CURRENT_DATE)) end_hc,
     (SELECT COUNT(*) AS headcount
      FROM employees
      WHERE start_date <= CURRENT_DATE - 365 AND (end_date IS NULL OR end_date > CURRENT_DATE - 365)) start_hc;

Common mistakes that make Headcount Growth Rate wrong

• Decide whether contractors and part-time staff count as headcount or full-time equivalents.
• Employees with a future start date must not be counted before they join.
• Use the same cut-off date logic for both ends, or leavers will be miscounted.

Ask for Headcount Growth Rate in plain English

Instead of writing the query yourself, you can type the question. SchemaChat turns it into SQL against your connected database or uploaded file, runs it, and shows the SQL and the figures it used so you can check the answer before you share it. It does not replace your judgement about the definition: check that the query matches the formula your business uses.

• What is our headcount today compared with a year ago?
• How has headcount changed by department over the last 12 months?