A new survey from B.E. Smith, based on responses from nearly 600 healthcare leaders, reveals a troubling trend — 46% of healthcare executives plan to leave their organizations within the next year. Even more concerning, 26% of respondents said they’ll depart either immediately or within six months. This leadership vacuum threatens organizations already dealing with financial pressures and workforce issues, which were identified as the top threats to healthcare operations in 2025.
And finding replacements won’t be easy — 80% of executives say filling leadership positions is challenging in today’s market. Many organizations are using interim leaders to fill gaps temporarily.
The survey also spotted shifts in leadership priorities. Tech-focused roles in IT, cybersecurity, and AI are now among the fastest-growing leadership positions. This marks a notable change from previous years, when patient experience and value-based care dominated.
Optimism and opportunities
About 34% of executives expect better conditions in 2025 than in 2024, while 48% expect things to stay the same. Only 18% predict worse conditions.
Organizations hoping to keep their executives should focus on culture — the top factor influencing retention — followed by relationships with colleagues and compensation. Flexible scheduling and remote work options are also becoming more important.
Healthcare organizations are using multiple recruitment strategies, including widening their search scope, partnering with executive search firms, boosting compensation, and strengthening internal HR teams. For staffing industry leaders, high executive turnover will likely boost demand for search and interim leadership services. The rising importance of technology roles points to areas where specialized recruitment expertise will be valuable.
See B.E. Smith’s full report for more insights.
