Healthcare workers — facing burnout and dwindling levels of job satisfaction — are increasingly considering leaving their jobs, according to a survey released this week.
Perhaps most shocking among the survey’s findings were that many healthcare workers are also living paycheck to paycheck.
Everee released its 2024 Healthcare Staffing Report, which examined healthcare workers in the U.S. about the current state of job fulfillment and fair pay. The survey included responses from healthcare workers spanning nurses, home health aides, nursing assistants and technicians, among other roles.
The report found that 46% of healthcare workers said they were likely to leave their jobs within the next year and up to 47% were considering on-demand jobs like travel nursing.
Healthcare workers’ job satisfaction appears to be stalling as well. About half of respondents said their level of job satisfaction was about the same as last year, signaling that many workers don’t feel things are improving. Just over one-fifth noted they were feeling less satisfied with their jobs compared to last year.
In addition, 66% of healthcare employees said they lived paycheck-to-paycheck, with many saying they have thought about obtaining temporary work to boost their income.
“Healthcare workers are exploring different options to sustain their financial well-being, which underscores the urgency of addressing the needs of this workforce,” said Everee CEO Brett Barlow in a statement.
Nearly three-fourths of respondents said they felt underpaid, while 42% said that staffing shortages have impacted their day-to-day work. Additionally, 80% of employees surveyed said they prefer faster pay cycles, as opposed to the traditional monthly or twice-a-month paycheck.
“As we’ve seen in other industries, longer pay cycles are failing these workers,” Barlow added. “Organizations can better compete for talent during a tough market and job shortage by not only offering higher wages but also having options for faster pay.”
Physician and healthcare worker burnout has been a long-standing issue in the medical industry, and a high rate of physician suicide has also plagued the profession.
One recent campaign out of agency FCB Health New York in partnership with Disappearing Doctors sought to bring greater attention to the issue.
The Disposables campaign was designed to highlight the “disposable” aspect of how healthcare workers are often treated, leading to burnout and suicidal ideation.
The latest Healthcare Staffing Report sheds light on other aspects of burnout, such as pay and job satisfaction, and shows that healthcare workers continue to feel undervalued.
“As healthcare workers express a growing desire for higher compensation, increased autonomy, and faster pay, the industry stands at a pivotal moment to truly make a difference for these workers,” Barlow stated.
