Exploring beyond the bench: factors that may influence clinical laboratory professionals to consider leaving the...

The clinical laboratory workforce shortage is driven by retirements as well as professionals leaving for other reasons. This study examined the factors contributing to both factors.

We created a nationwide cross-sectional online survey distributed by social media and email. We used descriptive statistics and χ2 tests to examine select demographic and job-related variables, including job title, age, education level, sex, and institution type.

Among 302 participants, 16.2% reported having frequent thoughts of leaving the profession, and 17.9% reported intentions to leave within the next year. The retirement rate was 13.9% (73.8% classified as planned). Compensation (73.5%) and stress or burnout (61.2%) emerged as top factors driving thoughts of leaving. Compensation (75.9%) and lack of growth opportunities (51.9%) drove intentions to leave. Moderate associations were found between compensation and both thoughts of leaving (Cramer V = 0.428) and intentions to leave (Cramer V = 0.347; P < .001). Additionally, moderate associations were found between feelings of appreciation and both thoughts of leaving (Cramer V = 0.361) and intentions to leave (Cramer V = 0.379; P < .001).

The rates of retirement and professional attrition observed in this study align with previous research. Factors such as compensation and feeling undervalued underscore the need for institutions to implement initiatives that address both factors.