55% of health care workers eyeing new roles amid retention crisis, survey finds

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Five years after the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, America’s health care workforce is signaling a breaking point. A new survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Strategic Education finds that 55% of health care employees plan to look for a new role in the next year — either within their current organization (38%) or outside of it (40%).

The report, based on responses from 1,504 health care employees and 304 health care employers, paints a picture of a system under mounting pressure. Only one in three employees say they feel very valued by their current employer, and just 37% report being very satisfied with their current role.

Top reasons for leaving

Burnout, compensation and a lack of career advancement opportunities dominate as drivers of turnover. Nearly half of health care employees who are considering leaving cite inadequate pay and benefits (49%), emotional fatigue (48%) and limited pathways for growth (48%).

The dissatisfaction extends to how employees perceive their employers’ commitment to their future. Only 20% of respondents said they believe their organization is very invested in their long-term career success.

“Health care employees aren’t just burned out — they’re planning their exit,” the report notes.

Education as retention strategy

One clear theme emerges from the report: career development and education opportunities are increasingly tied to loyalty. Three in four health care employees said they are interested in continuing their education, but only 54% report that their employer offers education benefits.

Of those with access, fewer than two in five actually use them, with cost and time being the biggest barriers.

Younger generations are especially focused on career growth. Among Gen Z health care workers, 61% agree that education benefits are a good reason to stay with an employer, compared to 39% overall.

Employers recognize the link but aren’t fully capitalizing on it. Although 96% of employers say retention and career growth are top priorities, fewer than half use tuition assistance or education benefits strategically.

AI skills: Promise and pressure

The survey also highlights the accelerating role of artificial intelligence (AI) in reshaping workforce needs. More than four in 10 health care employees say AI is the top clinical or technical skill they expect to need in the next five years. Employers overwhelmingly agree — 92% say AI skills training is a priority.

The readiness gap, though, is significant. Just 41% of health care workers feel comfortable using AI tools, and 36% believe they are falling behind their peers in other industries. Meanwhile, 42% worry AI will replace some aspects of their job.

Implications for employers

The findings suggest a mismatch between employer intentions and employee realities. Workers say education and flexibility could keep them engaged, but many report those supports are either underused or inaccessible.

Nearly two-thirds of employees say they cannot afford to pay up front for education expenses and three-quarters say flexible scheduling would make training more feasible.

The report urges employers to make education benefits a retention priority, close awareness gaps and pair funding with flexibility. As the report concludes, investing in employees is no longer optional.

“Invest in your employees and they will invest in you,” one health care employer noted. “Employees having the support from their boss to continue their education helps them follow their dreams … it will show in their work.”