New figures from Indeed finds that 92% of healthcare workers have experienced burnout, with 96% reporting that they regularly work overtime.

The figures for burnout within the medical industry are depressingly high. In late August, Healthcare Today reported that 82% of doctors said that they were at risk of burnout.

The figures aren’t getting any better. New research from matching and hiring platform Indeed which surveyed more than 1,000 healthcare professionals in the UK finds that 92% of healthcare workers have experienced burnout, with 96% reporting that they regularly work overtime. 

The average amount of overtime worked is 14 hours, almost a third (28%) of which is unpaid. This rises among mental health workers, of whom 22% work 21 hours or more unpaid per week. Despite this, nearly half (44%) still feel undervalued, while 56% say understaffing is significantly making their job harder.

Needle in a haystack 

Unsurprisingly, just over a third (34%) are actively considering leaving their current role, though there is a glimmer of hope that 63% of respondents believe that better work exists within the industry, but struggle to find the right opportunity.

Despite the ongoing pressures, many healthcare workers remain committed to their profession and continue to find meaning in their roles. Helping patients (49%), working collaboratively (37%) and building strong relationships (36%) are consistently cited as the most rewarding parts of the job. 

Satisfaction is particularly high among midwives, all of whom say they’re happy in their role, followed closely by pharmacists (95%) and mental health professionals (94%).

For many, however, the challenge lies not in the work itself – but in finding the right environment. More than four in five (85%) workers say that belonging is important to them, but feel it is missing from their current role.

While almost two-thirds (63%) believe that better roles are out there in the industry, more than half (51%) say they’re too exhausted after their shifts to search for a new job. 

Even if they did have the energy, the jobs are hard to find. More than half (55%) also describe the process of finding a suitable role as “like finding a needle in a haystack”.