Employee confidence in the healthcare sector in the third quarter of 2014 fell to its lowest level in more than a year and more workers intend to look for a new job in the upcoming year, according to the Randstad Healthcare Employee Confidence Index.
Confidence levels fell more than 5 points between the second and third quarters, from 59.8 to 54.3, according to the index, which polls nurses, physicians and administrators. Employees confident in the economy dropped more steeply, falling 12 points to 19 percent compared to the second quarter. Thirty-four percent of respondents believe the economy has plateaued while 46 percent believe it is weakening.
The survey also found:
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Employees' confidence in their own workplace situation also declined between quarters, from 77.1 to 73.6.
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Employees reported lower optimism about job security and finding a job, contributing to the drop in employment confidence. Approximately 49 percent of healthcare employees are confident they could find a job in the next 12 months, a 12 percent drop from the second quarter.
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Employee willingness to job hunt was up in the third quarter, with 36 percent of healthcare employees likely to look for a new job in the next 12 months, up about eight points from the second quarter.
Healthcare leaders must pay attention to the number of employees likely to seek new jobs, Randstad Healthcare President Steve McMahan wrote, as staff consistency can play a major role in patient satisfaction.
"It goes without saying that disengagement leads to turnover, something our healthcare organizations simply can't afford," McMahan wrote. "As healthcare executives and leaders seek ways to retain hard-to-find quality and specialized healthcare talent, boosting engagement and providing adequate support to healthcare staff are two great places to start."
Employee confidence also dropped since this time last year, when Ranstad found employee confidence reached 59.2 percent in the third quarter of 2013, FierceHealthcare previously reported.
To learn more:
- read the survey results