The study, published today in Health Affairs, compared intent to leave or retire in 2017 with actual separations through 2021 among state and local public health staff at agencies that participated in the PH WINS survey in both years. 

The study found that 46% of state and local employees left their organizations during that time. The number rose to 74% among employees under age 35 and 77% among employees with less than five years of experience. 

This rate of departure has a great societal impact through the loss of critical public health experience and institutional knowledge during a health crisis. 

If the trend continues, nearly 130,000 staff will have left their jobs by 2025. 

We’re losing early-career professionals at the same time that senior leaders are leaving in droves. These two trends are colliding in a perfect storm that leaves us extremely vulnerable to the next public health threat.  

Stopgap measures:  1. Offer accessible and affordable supervisory training,  2. Create a mentorship program 3. Reduce the burden of student debt