Retirement intentions of the public health nutrition workforce

High retirement rates are anticipated throughout public health as baby boomers (those born between 1946 and 1964) near retirement. Predicting retirement intention would aid workforce planning.

Participants were nutrition professionals/paraprofessionals 45 years and older in nutrition programs under official health agencies' authority who participated in a census enumeration and released their data for research. Secondary data analysis was conducted using selected factors from Beehr's Model of Retirement Behavior to determine whether significant (P < or = .05) differences exist for and can be used to predict retirement intention (within 10 years) and years until intended retirement.

Of the 4,460 individuals, 47.2% intended to retire within 10 years. Retirement intention was predicted by age category, years of experience in nutrition/dietetics and public health nutrition, agency type, retirement and vacation benefits, time in direct services, US Department of Health and Human Services region, and full-time/part-time status. Years until intended retirement was predicted by age category, years of nutrition/dietetics and public health nutrition experience, required training, and time in direct services. Results suggest retirement rates similar to the public health workforce overall. Findings can be used by managers/administrators to prepare their organizations for worker retirement or to influence retirement intention. Further research is necessary to determine other factors impacting retirement decision.