More than half of healthcare executives plan to leave their roles within the next three years, according to a report from LHH, an executive search firm.
Here are six more things to know from two 2025 surveys: one from LHH, which included 2,675 C-suite leaders across 11 countries, and another from LHH’s parent company, the Adecco Group, which surveyed 2,000 C-suite leaders across 13 countries.
1. Among U.S. executives across industries, 15% of respondents said they plan to change roles within the next 12 months, compared to 49% who said they are eyeing the exit within the next two to three years.
2. Twenty-two percent of U.S. executives said they plan to change roles within the next three years, and 14% are not considering a change.
3. Healthcare executives surveyed across all countries are also eyeing the exit in the long term. Thirteen percent said they plan to change roles within 12 months, compared to 42% who plan to do so in two to three years, 34% in more than three years and 11% who are not considering a change at this time.
4. Two in 3 executives planning an exit intend to leave their organization entirely, citing moves such as a shift from internal to external roles (23%), starting their own business (20%), retirement (9%) or taking a career break (15%). Thirty-three percent said they plan to step into a new role within their current organization.
5. The top reasons executives are seeking a new role are a better salary (38%), improved work-life balance (36%) and opportunities for new skills development (30%).
6. The top reasons executives are looking to stay in their roles are because their work is meaningful or fulfilling (27%), they are happy with their current flexibility (26%) and they are satisfied with their work-life balance (26%).
