Healthcare employees concerned about economy, not employability

Healthcare employees have a decreased confidence in the U.S. economy as a whole but feel optimistic about their personal employment prospects, according to the recently released Randstad Healthcare Employee Confidence Index.

Harris Interactive conducted the quarterly survey of 232 workers currently employed in the healthcare industry on behalf of Randstad Healthcare. 

The survey found that overall confidence among U.S. healthcare workers declined 4.5 points in the second quarter of 2012, but 51 percent are confident in their ability to find a new job.

Other key survey findings include:

• Forty-three percent believe the strength of the economy is weakening, an increase from 27 percent in first quarter 2012. Only 20 percent of healthcare workers believe the economy is strengthening.
• While nearly a quarter (24 percent) of survey respondents report that more jobs are available, approximately half (49 percent) of healthcare workers believe there are fewer opportunities available.
• Although declining eight percentage points from last quarter, the majority (58 percent) of healthcare workers feel confident in the future of their company.
• Thirty-seven percent of healthcare workers are likely to look for a new job in the next 12 months (rising six percentage points from Q1 2012).

"Employees in the healthcare industry continue to feel confident in their own employability, and rightfully so," said Steve McMahan, executive vice president of Randstad US, Professionals. "The combination of healthy monthly job gains and the recent Supreme Court decision to uphold the federal healthcare legislation solidifies future growth within the industry and promising job prospects for healthcare professionals. Together, these factors are likely influencing the confidence levels among healthcare workers when it comes to their own personal employment situation."

McMahan expects this trend to continue.

"In addition to the recent upholding of healthcare reform legislation, an aging Baby Boomer population also ensures the continued growth and demand for skilled workers in the healthcare. More healthcare facilities, including outpatient settings and hospital networks will likely need additional, specialized and flexible staff to help deliver patient care to an expanded population," he said.

Jason Drucker, COO, ShiftWise, a workforce automation management firm, believes the increase in availability of work for temporary, flexible and contract healthcare employees also plays a part in helping healthcare workers feel they would be able to find work.

"Our users, who are healthcare providers around the country, see an uptick in highly skilled and experienced staff who value flexibility of work and lifestyle, and the growth in that segment indicates a confidence in the industry as a whole," he said.

Although the survey shows a slim majority of healthcare workers feel they could get another job in the current economic climate, there are fewer who believed this in Q2 2012 than in Q1 (51 versus 58 percent).

There are many factors currently impacting healthcare employee confidence, said Christine Ricci, vice president, marketing, PR and strategic alliances at Lenexa, Kan.-based healthcare recruiting firm B.E. Smith.

“Several variables were introduced or accentuated in the second quarter that would naturally impact employee confidence and career perceptions,” she said, citing as examples the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Affordable Care Act; the intensifying political debates over healthcare as the election nears; and the continual rise in healthcare costs and continual decline in reimbursements.

Ricci believes, however, that healthcare executives at many organizations are taking steps to increase employee confidence.

“Though employee confidence may have decreased, many hospital boards and senior executives are looking at ways to increase engagement and improve employee satisfaction, in order to retain top performers and improve employee confidence,” said Ricci. “In regards to career perceptions, organizations are being more selective with the executives they hire, striving for the precise skill set, experience and cultural fit.”