Pharmacist job turnover from 1983 to 1997 was studied.
Data were collected from a randomized 1997 mail survey of 1600 licensed pha
rmacists in four states (Ohio, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Alabama). The sur
vey instrument included questions on pharmacist demographics, work schedule
s, salary, and work history.
A total of 541 pharmacists responded, yielding an adjusted response rate of
34.5%. Information was provided on a total of 1697 jobs with start dates f
rom 1931 to 1997. Pharmacist job turnover was fairly steady across the 1983
-1997 period, averaging 11% annually. The average median tenure of pharmaci
sts who left jobs was 32 months. The percentage of pharmacists leaving jobs
and ranking stress as the reason for leaving increased, and the percentage
of leavers ranking salary as the reason decreased. Women had a significant
ly higher annual turnover rate (15%) than men (9.7%), and they stayed in jo
bs for significantly less time (25.2 months) than men (56.5 months). There
were no differences in turnover rates across practice settings. A larger pe
rcentage of pharmacists Leaving jobs in large chain and institutional setti
ngs ranked stress as a reason for leaving than pharmacists leaving independ
ent or small chain pharmacies. A larger percentage of pharmacists leaving i
ndependent or small chain pharmacies ranked salary as a reason than pharmac
ists in the other two settings.
Pharmacist job turnover averaged 11% per year between 1983 and 1997. Pharma
cists who left jobs typically stayed less than three years. The percentage
citing stress as a reason for leaving increased,and the percentage citing s
alary decreased.