What is the turnover rate for the healthcare workforce, and how does it vary by role?

• A. Approximately 15 percent annually with no variation by role.
• B. About 10 percent annually, higher for service positions (20%) and lower for clinical support positions (5-8%).
• C. Approximately 5 percent annually for all roles.
• D. Approximately 25 percent annually, higher for clinical roles.

Answer: (B)

Turnover rate shows how many employees leave the organization each year. In healthcare, overall turnover is about 10% annually, but it isn’t the same for every role. Service positions—like food service, housekeeping, and transport—tend to have higher turnover, around 20%, while clinical support roles—those providing direct support to clinical teams—are more stable, typically about 5–8%. This pattern makes sense because service roles often face lower pay, fewer advancement opportunities, and more entry‑level turnover, whereas clinical support roles require specific training or certifications and connect more closely to care delivery, helping retention. The other options don’t fit because they either ignore variation by role or propose implausible magnitudes (e.g., a uniform rate for all roles or a much higher rate for clinical roles).