A shifting tide may be coming for the U.S. healthcare workforce. An October 1 blog post by Coronis Health spotlights findings from a recent Harris Poll that reveal deep dissatisfaction and burnout among frontline healthcare employees and a growing intent to leave their jobs.
Commissioned by Strategic Education, the poll of more than 1,800 healthcare employees and employers found an industry at an inflection point, where exhaustion, lack of recognition and insufficient career development are fueling widespread attrition risk.
Here are four takeaways:
1. The factors pushing workers toward the exits
The Harris Poll uncovered a troubling sentiment across the industry: 84% of healthcare workers feel taken for granted and over half (55%) are planning to look for, interview for, or switch to a new role within the next year.
This comes as the U.S. faces a projected shortage of nearly 700,000 critical healthcare workers including physicians, RNs, and LPNs by 2037. The issue is especially acute in rural America, where two-thirds of counties are already designated as Health Professional Shortage Areas by HHS.
2. Younger workers are the most likely to leave
The healthcare talent pipeline is leaking fastest among Gen Z and Millennial employees.
Employers report that early-career staff and frontline caregivers, such as nursing assistants and personal care aides, are the hardest to retain. Only one in five employees feel their employer is truly invested in their long-term career success, a warning sign for workforce sustainability.
3. AI is reshaping the skills gap
AI has become both a source of optimism and anxiety for healthcare professionals. While 43% of employees identify AI as the top skill they’ll need in the next five years, 42% worry it could replace aspects of their role.
Nearly all employers (92%) see AI training as essential, yet 60% struggle to find appropriate resources to deliver it, leaving many workers underprepared for the shift.
4. The key to retention
Despite the challenges, the survey offers a potential path forward. 63% of healthcare employees said they’d be more likely to stay if tuition support were provided and nearly half of employers recognize that a lack of advancement opportunities drives turnover. Education matters most to younger staff, 61% of Gen Z workers say learning benefits are a major reason they remain with their employer.
As Adele Webb, executive dean of healthcare Initiatives at Strategic Education, emphasized, “Continuing education should be at the heart of a strong healthcare retention strategy.”
