Majority of US Gen Z healthcare workers eye new jobs within the year, survey shows

Sept 16 (Reuters) - A majority of younger U.S. healthcare workers plan to explore new jobs within the next year, even as many want long-term stability with a single employer, a survey released on Wednesday found.

The findings highlight a retention challenge for U.S. healthcare employers already facing a projected shortage of nearly 500,000 workers by 2038, as an aging workforce and rising demand put pressure on staffing.

About 70% of Generation Z healthcare workers, generally those born between 1997 and 2012, said they expect to explore new roles over the next year, according to the survey by Harris Poll, commissioned by education services company Strategic Education and Workforce Edge.

Yet 65% said they ultimately hope to remain with one employer for five years or more, while nearly all said job stability was important to them.

Across all age groups, 59% of healthcare workers said they expect to seek a new role over the next year, the survey found.

The findings suggest that career advancement, rather than simply a desire to change jobs, may be an important factor driving turnover among younger workers, the survey said.

Nearly half of employers surveyed said a lack of career growth or training was the top reason workers leave, while only about one in four employees said they trusted their employer to invest in their future.

The online survey of 1,514 healthcare employees and 304 employers was conducted from June 12 to July 1.

Employers also appear to be reassessing the role of artificial intelligence in workforce planning. About 79% said AI skills would be critical for employees to remain competitive, down from 89% a year earlier, according to the survey.