Healthcare may be the fastest-growing sector of the U.S. financial system, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but a new report indicates it could soon lose a chunk of its Gen Z workforce.
Soliant, a healthcare staffing company, recently released its 2024 Healthcare Employment Trends Report. According to this report, more than 22% of Gen Z healthcare workers (age 18 to 27) are planning to leave the field within one to three years.
That’s the highest level of workers planning to leave within that short timespan compared to other age cohorts. Among millennials aged 28 to 43, 5.4% of respondents said they planned to leave in one to three years and just 2.5% of those aged 44 to 59 said they would. A smaller percentage of workers (15.2%) aged 60 and above planned to leave the industry in one to three years.
Overall, the healthcare industry employs an estimated 22 million workers in the U.S., per the CDC. It noted that these workers face a range of hazards on the job.
“Healthcare roles can be demanding, often leading to high levels of stress and burnout,” said Soliant. “For younger professionals, who are passionate about their work, the desire to help others may sometimes clash with the reality of job demands. Addressing these issues requires a multifaceted approach, including support systems, mentoring, and programs aimed at improving mental health and well-being.”
Soliant’s report found that the top reason why Gen Z healthcare workers planned to leave the field was “an unhealthy workplace environment and culture,” at 14.5%, while fewer cited job stress and burnout as a reason for leaving their jobs than older generations. They were also found to prioritize passion and career growth more than people aged 60 and older, who were focused on job stability and community impact.
“They’re tired of a system that treats them like expendable resources instead of people,” said HR consultant Bryan Driscoll according to a report published Wednesday by Newsweek. “Gen Z grew up in a world where mental health isn’t taboo, boundaries are encouraged, and they’ve seen how unsustainable careers can wreck lives. They’re not afraid to prioritize themselves, and frankly, who can blame them?”
Audacy has reported on Gen Z’s presence in the workplace before. Just this week, a study from Google Workspace indicated that 82% of Gen Z workers have admitted to using artificial intelligence to complete their work. Another survey from earlier this month indicated that Gen Z behaviors were leading nearly one in five managers (18%) to consider quitting their jobs. At the same time, recent data shows that Gen Z is racking up debt while getting financial assistance from the parents to make ends meet.
In the healthcare field, hiring and keeping new generations of workers is important.
“If this trend continues, the healthcare industry could face a talent crisis that makes the pandemic labor shortages look like a dress rehearsal,” Driscoll said. “But there’s a silver lining here. This exodus could force systemic change: better working conditions, genuine investment in employee well-being, and more sustainable career paths.”
According to the Children’s Hospital Association, workplace generation gap expert David Stillman explained that Gen Z grew up in an era of economic instability and they have a unique outlook on work. For example, he said they are more competitive compared to millennials, who are more collaborative. In order to retain Gen Z healthcare workers, he recommended tapping into this competitive streak.
“This plays out well in health care because it can be a competitive field and presents a lot of opportunities for wins,” Stillman said.