Dive Brief:
More than half of healthcare workers are considering leaving their jobs within the next year, according to a new survey by the Harris Poll.
Healthcare workers said they’re eyeing an exit due to dissatisfaction at work, including high levels of burnout and feeling taken for granted by their employers.
Employers may be able to retain talent by investing in educational opportunities, according to the survey, which was commissioned by education services company Strategic Education. Over 60% of surveyed employees said they would be more likely to stay in a role if tuition support was provided, for example.
Dive Insight:
The Harris Poll, which surveyed 1,504 frontline healthcare employees and 304 employers between June 26 and July 21, comes as burnout remains pervasive across the industry. Demand for healthcare workers is outpacing supply in most areas, especially rural regions, making attrition a pressing problem for employers.
The labor shortage could also worsen in the coming years as Americans age and require more care, experts at the Harris Poll said. The Health Resources and Services Administration, for example, predicts there will be a shortage of nearly 700,000 physicians, registered nurses and licensed practical nurses by 2037.
Surveyed employees say they feel largely underappreciated, driving some of the attrition.
Only 1 in 5 healthcare workers surveyed believed their employer is invested in their long-term career growth, for example. And less than a third of respondents reported feeling “very loyal” to their current employer.
Still, Jennifer Musil, global president of research at the Harris Poll, said in a statement that the survey’s findings offer some answers for employers hoping to retain talent.
Education benefits appear to be an attractive perk for some, according to the survey. A majority of workers believe that employers should be investing more in their education, with Gen Z and Millennial workers most likely to say education benefits would be a reason to stay at their jobs.
Offering AI training would be a particularly popular offering, according to the survey, as both employers and employees say AI literacy is an increasingly valuable skill to have.
“Investment in the advancement of employees is central to ensuring that the healthcare workforce feels appreciated and valued, while also prepared to meet new challenges, including AI,” said Adele Webb, executive dean of healthcare initiatives at Strategic Education.
