This study explores the influence of work-life balance and emotional intelligence on employee retention, mediated by job engagement, in the manufacturing sector in Cirebon. Using a quantitative method and a survey of 187 respondents, data were analyzed through SPSS. The results demonstrate that work-life balance and emotional intelligence significantly affect retention both directly and indirectly through job engagement. These findings emphasize the importance of promoting job engagement to improve employee loyalty. The study offers practical implications for human resource strategies to enhance retention in competitive industrial settings.