This past summer, The VET Recruiter sent a survey to professionals working in the Animal Health industry and Veterinary profession. The goal of this survey was to collect data that would allow us to gauge the state of both, with an eye toward predicting what the future might hold.
At the beginning of the survey, we asked participants to identify whether or not they work in the Animal Health industry or the Veterinary profession. Then, depending upon which they chose, they were presented with a series of questions. In some cases, the questions overlapped between both, and in other cases, they did not.
Below are the results from The VET Recruiter’s survey of Animal Health and Veterinary professionals, starting with the former. As you may notice, each set of results has been grouped into specific categories for convenience and ease of reading.
Animal Health Industry Survey Results
Demographics:
- 32% of animal health professionals surveyed are 55 years old or older.
- 54% of animal health professionals surveyed are male.
Employment and Job Satisfaction:
- Only 10% of animal health professionals believe there is not a workforce shortage within the industry.
- 66% of the animal health professionals are currently hiring.
- On a scale from 1-10, 17% of animal health professionals rate their overall satisfaction with their current position as a 4 or lower. 43% rate their overall satisfaction between a 5 and a 7, and 40% rate their overall satisfaction between an 8 and a 10.
- 83% of animal health professionals say it is likely they will remain at their current job for the next 12 months.
- 87% of animal health professionals would recommend the industry to a friend or family member.
Workplace Concerns:
- 90% of animal health professionals expressed concerns about their current workplace.
- The greatest shared concerns animal health professionals have are being overworked and poor communication at their workplace, followed by being underpaid and management or leadership concerns.
- 6% of Animal Health professionals are not satisfied with their commute time to work.
Work Hours and Flexibility:
- 47% of animal health professionals surveyed are working less than 40 hours per week.
- 53% of animal health professionals surveyed say they have flexible working hours.
- 86% of animal health professionals say they are satisfied with their work schedule.
- 90% of animal health professionals believe their job allows them to have a good work/life balance.
Compensation and Salary:
- 79% of animal health professionals are satisfied with their current compensation.
- 78% of animal health professionals surveyed make $100,000 or more per year.
- 24% of animal health professionals did not receive an annual cost-of-living pay increase in the last 12 months. 91% of male animal health professionals did receive this pay increase, while only 53% of females did.
Recruitment and Job Change:
- 39% of animal health professionals believe it is acceptable to change jobs after 1-2 years, while 49% believe it is acceptable to change jobs after 3-5 years.
- 22% of animal health professionals surveyed have an average tenure of less than 2 years, and 46% have an average tenure of less than 4 years.
- 35% of animal health professionals surveyed have been at their current employer for less than two years.
- 73% of animal health professionals say they are open to exploring new career opportunities.
- 64% of animal health professionals have had interviews in the last 12 months.
- 23% of animal health professionals have never worked with a recruiter.
- 72% of male animal health professionals have worked with a recruiter for personal employment, while only 49% of female animal health professionals have.
- Of the animal health professionals currently open to opportunities, 69% of them have worked with a recruiter for personal employment.
Veterinary Profession Survey Results
Demographics:
- 20% of veterinarians surveyed are 55 years old or older.
- 77% of veterinarians surveyed are female.
Employment and Job Satisfaction:
- Only 6% of veterinarians believe there is not a workforce shortage in the Veterinary profession.
- 87% of veterinarians are currently hiring.
- 39% of veterinarians play a part in the hiring process.
- 76% of male veterinarians play a part in the hiring process, while only 31% of female veterinarians do.
18% of veterinarians rate their overall satisfaction with their current position as a 4 or lower. 41% rate their satisfaction between 5 and 7, and 41% rate it between 8 and 10. - 76% of veterinarians say it’s likely they will remain at their current job for the next 12 months.
- 54% of veterinarians surveyed would recommend their profession to a friend or family member.
Work Concerns and Work Conditions:
- 93% of veterinarians expressed concerns about their current workplace.
- 17% of veterinarians are not satisfied with their commute time to work.
- 69% of veterinarians surveyed are satisfied with their current workload.
Work Hours and Flexibility:
- 50% of veterinarians surveyed work less than 40 hours per week.
- Only 26% of veterinarians surveyed say they have flexible working hours.
- 80% of veterinarians surveyed are satisfied with their work schedule.
- 73% of veterinarians believe their job allows them to have a good work/life balance.
Compensation and Salary:
- 61% of veterinarians did not receive an annual cost-of-living pay increase in the last 12 months.
- 62% of male veterinarians received a pay increase, while only 31% of female veterinarians did.
- 75% of veterinarians are satisfied with their current compensation.
- 75% of veterinarians surveyed make $100,000 or more per year.
- 53% of relief veterinarians are open to working for one clinic if the job is right.
Recruitment and Job Changes:
- 41% of veterinarians believe it’s acceptable to change jobs after 1-2 years.
- 21% of veterinarians have an average tenure of less than 2 years, and 51% have an average tenure of less than 4 years.
- 42% of veterinarians surveyed are open to exploring new career opportunities.
- 36% of veterinarians have had interviews in the last 12 months.
- 57% of male veterinarians have worked with a recruiter for personal employment, while only 28% of female veterinarians have.
We at The VET Recruiter would like to thank everyone who participated in our survey. We invite you to further explore our website to see the value that we have to offer to both those who are looking to hire and those who wish to grow their career.