"Push" and "pull" life and career factors affected the choice to enter, stay, or exit the workplace locations of 40 mid- to late-career veterinarians.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Hiring and retaining veterinarians remains more of an uphill battle in some US regions than in others. This geographic maldistribution of veterinary workforce was studied by exploring "push" and "pull" life and career factors influencing the migration of veterinarians in the US. METHODS: With a qualitative research approach, 40 semistructured interviews of veterinarians were conducted in 2022 and 2023 to identify factors that influenced choice of first work location, reasons for exiting workplaces, and decisions to stay long-term in chosen locations. Transcribed interviews were analyzed by adopting an interpretive paradigm and using thematic and content analytic approaches. RESULTS: Choice of work locations for 40 participants, who were primarily mid- to late-career veterinarians, was influenced by 5 themes: family, community and sense of belonging, opportunities for (career) growth, supportiveness of workplace, and location amenities. The relative importance of themes varied as veterinarians progressed through different career stages, with location amenities possibly having the least sway on choice of first workplace. CONCLUSIONS: Family, sense of belonging, and amenities influenced choice of workplace location, especially for long-term stay. Unaddressed dissatisfaction at work, lack of support, and stagnant opportunities for career growth hastened the exit of veterinarians from any geographic region. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Even when family, community, and amenities appear as "fixed" factors in a geographical area, providing opportunities for career and professional development and building multilateral support within work communities can help with retention and, ultimately, recruitment of newer workforce in a region.