Healthcare is evolving fast—and so are the expectations of those delivering it. But engagement and alignment have slipped, creating a disconnect between caregivers and the systems meant to support them. Rather than a crisis, this is the moment for leaders to recenter around an urgent need: building and sustaining trust.

Based on feedback from 2.3M employees, our “Healthcare employee experience 2025” report uncovers key insights into the state of the workforce today. It also lays out a data-backed roadmap for action, helping organizations improve engagement, foster cultures safety, build resilience, and retain their most valuable resources: their people. 

Key healthcare workforce insights for 2025

• Engagement is slipping. In 2024, engagement dropped by 0.02 points. That dip matters: Disengaged employees are 1.7x more likely to leave.
• While turnover is down, the trend may not last. The turnover rate improved from 20% to 18%. Still, declining engagement could reverse these gains.
• APPs and physicians are under the most strain—and need support. Engagement among advanced practice providers (APPs) dropped 0.08 points, and just 52% feel heard by leadership. Physician engagement slid 0.06 points, with alignment declining even further.
• Safety culture has stalled. Only 78% of employees feel their organization cares about their safety—a 2-percentage-point dip from last year.
• Gen Z and millennials are driven by a new set of priorities. Younger employees score well below the national average for engagement. It’s not that they can’t, or won’t, do the work; they’re just motivated by different things—like career growth and manager behaviors.
• Employees want more than a paycheck. Across all roles and age groups, the biggest drivers of engagement and intent to stay center around trust, respect, belonging, quality, and safety.

Download “Healthcare employee experience 2025” for the latest insights and actionable strategies to help keep your workforce engaged—and thriving.