Employment Decisions of Newly Graduated Occupational Therapists.
Stephany Lui, Jeffrey Boniface, Giovanna Boniface and 1 others
PMID 39252506WHAT IT FOUND
Newly graduated occupational therapists in British Columbia mostly work in urban public general physical health roles.
They prioritize mentorship in their first job, but shift to valuing work-life balance and job fit in later roles. Job satisfaction linked to feeling challenged.
Key findings
01Most participants worked in the public sector, in major cities, and in general physical health.
02The top factors for first employment were extrinsic: mentorship, job availability, and professional development. Current employment was driven by lifestyle, work hours, and personality fit.
03Higher job satisfaction was significantly associated with rating 'sense of challenge' as an important factor in employment decisions.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The study used a descriptive design, so it shows associations but cannot prove that specific factors cause employment decisions. The response rate was low (19% of invited participants), and the sample was small (122 people), which limits how widely the results can be applied. Most participants had only 1-2 years of experience, so the views of therapists closer to the 5-year cutoff were underrepresented. The survey assumed all participants understood the terms 'intrinsic' and 'extrinsic' factors in the same way, which may have affected how they rated them. The findings are specific to British Columbia and may not reflect the experiences of occupational therapists in other provinces or countries.
Declared interests
The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, or publication of this article.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that offering mentorship alone will retain experienced staff. The study found that while mentorship drives first-job choices, work-life balance and job fit become the primary concerns for therapists in their current roles.