Survey indicates healthcare hot for hiring

Healthcare continues to be one of the hottest areas for hiring in the U.S. and one of the toughest to recruit in-demand talent. CareerBuilder’s annual survey finds 22 percent of healthcare hiring managers plan to add full-time, permanent healthcare employees in 2013, up 3 percentage points in 2012. At the same time, 23 percent of healthcare employers reported that they currently have open positions for which they can’t find qualified talent.

Thirteen percent of all U.S. jobs are in healthcare and the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the U.S. will add 5.6 million healthcare jobs from 2010 to 2020, the largest projected increase of any industry.

Healthcare organizations are considering alternative and temporary solutions. Thirty-six percent of healthcare employers plan to hire temporary and contract workers in 2013, up from 34 percent last year. Among these employers, 37 percent plan to transition some temporary workers into full-time, permanent employees over the next 12 months. Employers are taking measures to “re-skill” workers themselves. Two-thirds of healthcare employers said they plan to train people who don’t have experience in healthcare and hire them for positions within their organizations, up from 33 percent last year.

Meanwhile, 20 percent of healthcare workers reported they have been approached to work for another employer in the last year when they didn’t apply for a position with that organization.

In an effort to retain and attract top talent for skilled positions, healthcare employers expect to provide higher compensation for both current staff and prospective employees. Seventy-six percent of healthcare employers plan to increase compensation for existing employees--up from 65 percent last year--while 53 percent will offer higher starting salaries for new healthcare employees--up from 34 percent last year. Most increases will be 3 percent or less.

Thirty-seven percent of healthcare employers reported that top performers left their organizations in 2012. While most healthcare workers reported they’re generally satisfied with their jobs, 39 percent said they feel underemployed, and 20 percent said they plan on switching jobs in the coming year. To stave off an increase in voluntary turnover, 45 percent of employers reported they are increasing employee retention efforts including more employee recognition, flexible schedules and surveying employees to see what’s most important to them.

This survey was conducted online among 274 healthcare hiring managers and human resource professionals and 576 healthcare workers (employed full-time, not self-employed, non-government) between Nov. 1 and Nov. 30, 2012.