HIT consultants report higher satisfaction than FTEs

Health IT consultants are more satisfied with their work life than their full-time employed counterparts, according to the first HIT Workforce Engagement survey from consulting and staffing firm Healthcare IT Leaders.

More than three-quarters (77 percent) of consultants report satisfaction in their current job, with 43 percent saying they are "very satisfied" and 44 percent saying they are "somewhat satisfied." Fewer (64 percent) full-time health IT employees reported satisfaction, with 19 percent saying they are "very satisfied' and 45 percent reporting that they are "somewhat satisfied."

“Most healthcare IT consultants in today’s job market have plenty of reasons to smile,” said Brad Elster, president of Healthcare IT Leaders. “They are well-paid, they are in high-demand, and the work they do is challenging and satisfying. What’s not to be happy about?”

Forty percent of consultants said they were “very satisfied” with their current pay, compared to 18 percent of FTEs who said the same. Both consultants and FTEs named “better compensation” as the top reason to consider changing jobs.

Both groups said they envision themselves on the other side of the fence with 14 percent of consultants saying they are "very likely" to become FTEs in the next year compared to 13 percent of FTEs who said they are "very likely" to become consultants. Just 10 percent of health IT said they are completely satisfied with their job and not open to a new job, which means a hefty percentage are looking for new employment.

“The HIT job market has been super-heated for a few years now and even fully-employed professionals are actively managing their careers and are more open to new opportunities,” said Elster.