Flexibility and autonomy emerge as key solutions for professionals returning to the healthcare workforce
ShiftKey, a leading technology marketplace disrupting healthcare through data and workforce empowerment, today unveiled findings from the “ShiftKey Empowered Workforce Report.”
The data highlights the role flexibility can play in alleviating the healthcare workforce crisis. More than a third of healthcare professionals surveyed reported previously taking a pause in their career; however, nearly 78% of professionals who returned to the workforce cited flexibility and control over their own schedules as the key factor in allowing them to return. In fact, nearly one-third (32%) of professionals surveyed say they would be unable to work in healthcare without the flexibility that a platform like ShiftKey provides — highlighting the critical role that an empowered workforce fills.
Highlights from the report
Career pauses perpetuate workforce crisis: Over one-third (34%) of healthcare professionals surveyed reported taking a pause in their careers, perpetuating large-scale workforce shortages across the industry.
- Of those who report taking a pause, nearly one-third (28%) temporarily left the workforce altogether.
- Nearly half (49%) of those who took a career pause were out of the healthcare industry for 1-3 years, emphasizing the transient nature of these breaks and potential challenges in workforce stability.
Overburdened workforce drives churn: Burnout and overscheduling (40%) were listed as the No. 1 reason workers paused their careers, followed by inadequate pay (22%) and lack of flexibility (16%).
- Nearly 3 out of 4 (71%) healthcare workers who use the ShiftKey platform have caregiving responsibilities in the home, whether that be children, another family member or a partner.
Flexibility’s impact on bringing healthcare workers back into the workforce: A significant majority (78%) of healthcare professionals credited the flexibility found through the variety of work opportunities on the ShiftKey marketplace as a key factor in enabling their return to the healthcare workforce, highlighting the positive influence of the app on professionals seeking to find ways to continue to use their skills while managing different personal responsibilities.
- 1 in 3 (32%) healthcare workers who use the ShiftKey app stated that without the ability to work on their own schedule, they would not be able to continue working in the healthcare industry.
- ShiftKey’s effect on work opportunity: More than half (55%) of the healthcare workers who use the ShiftKey app stated that they were introduced to a new healthcare setting or geographic location through the ShiftKey app.
The report, based on 2,400 licensed healthcare professionals who use the ShiftKey platform, showcases a potential path to bringing back many of the healthcare workers who left the workforce or switched careers due to burnout or the inability to balance personal needs. The report also highlights that an empowered and independent workforce is a key solution to the growing shortage of healthcare professionals impacting care facilities and patients across the nation.
“By 2034, older adults will outnumber children for the first time in U.S. history, creating a significant inflection point in the healthcare workforce crisis,” said Mike Vitek, CEO, ShiftKey. “During a time when healthcare organizations are desperate for talent, it is imperative we address the challenges facing workers, which demand unique and innovative solutions that empower them and restore autonomy. This new data shows the power these workforce solutions have to make a significant impact in solving this crisis and emphasizes the need for alternative working models within the healthcare industry.”
Additional insights from the report
- Nearly half (49%) of the healthcare workers who use the ShiftKey app have 10+ years of experience in the healthcare field.
- Nearly 3 out of 4 (71%) healthcare workers who use the ShiftKey app have caregiving responsibilities in the home, whether that be children, an ill family member or a partner.
- 53% said that “being their own boss” made it possible for them to resume their healthcare career.
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