70% of Gen Z healthcare workers say they're going to quit within the next year
Workforce shortages in the healthcare field have been an increasing issue, and this trend is not expected to change in the near future. There will be an estimated shortage of 500,000 healthcare workers by 2038. With physicians and nurses over 50 exiting the workforce soon, employers will be looking to fill those gaps with the next generation of workers. However, in a survey of over 1,500 United States healthcare employees, around three-quarters of Gen Z healthcare workers plan to find a new role within the next year. It is not specified whether the new roles will be within or outside of healthcare. However, a major issue Gen Z workers have with the current system is the lack of clear career advancement. While many of these individuals believe that education and training are essential in career advancement, less than half of the healthcare systems have a plan in place to help workers obtain it. From this, it might be inferred that many of these Gen Z workers will be looking towards careers in other fields where there is an opportunity for growth.
The survey, commissioned by the Harris Poll found that less than half of Gen Z healthcare workers feel very loyal to their current employer, in part because professional development and career advancement feel out of reach.
This raises a large concern of who will end up staying or even go into the healthcare field. There needs to be a change in how healthcare workers are viewed and treated.
Only about a quarter of Gen Z trust that their employer has their long-term career growth in mind, a priority for the demographic, according to the report.
Especially concerning, considering that a large portion of Gen Z consider having a meaningful job as important
Purser said younger workers want a clear-cut pathway toward career growth, in addition to some education benefits like tuition assistance or reimbursement. Outlining what workers will get out of certification processes, plus the time and financial commitments to pursuing new credentials, will also be essential.
With the cost of everything rising, it is important to help those getting into the field. Many would agree that having qualified, informed, and caring individuals guiding their healthcare treatment is important. These are possible solutions to help.
Instead, workers want to hear from their managers and peers about their benefits, particularly those surrounding career development pathways, the survey showed.
Communication between employers, healthcare providers, and each other are just as important as communication between providers and patients. If an employee's needs are not being met, how can we expect that the patient's needs are being met as well?
Reference
Heath , S. (2026, September 16). 70% of Gen Z Healthcare workers say they’re going to quit within the next year | healthcare dive. Healthcare Dive. https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/70-percent-gen-z-healthcare-workers-say-theyre-going-to-quit-within-next-year/830508/
No generative AI was used in the writing of this post
