Skip to main content

Table 1 Generational profiles within the medical workforce [21]

From: Failing to retain a new generation of doctors: qualitative insights from a high-income country

Characteristic

Veterans

Baby Boomers

A new Generation (Gen X & Y)a

Year of birth

1922–45

1946–64

1965–2000

Attitudes to work

Respect the system.

Work for security.

Married to medicine

Works long hours.

Loyalty to employer.

Being a doctor is only one aspect of identity.

Resist long working hours.

Expect to change jobs.

Value work-life balance & flexibility.

Reward

A job well done

Money, title, recognition

Freedom and time

Meaningful work

  1. aFor the purpose of this discussion, the authors have grouped together the categories of Generation X and Generation Y as a new generation of doctors, whose experienced contrast with those of the Baby Boomer generation