A 13-year Review of Initial Employment Trends for Pharmacy Graduates of the University of Arizona

Abstract

Objectives: To gain insight into current trends in pharmacy employment directly after graduation in the areas of community, hospital, pharmacy practice residencies and to relate those findings to environmental factors within the field. Methods: An exit survey was distributed to fourth-year students at The University of Arizona College of Pharmacy (UACOP) in the spring prior to graduation during the years 1993 to 2005. Among other items, the survey inquired about each student’s initial job selection. Group I consisted of data from the graduates of 1993-1995, Group II contained graduates from 1996-2000, and Group III included data from students during the years 2001-2005. The groups were compared using the chi-square method. Results: Data were collected from a total of 688 graduating students over the thirteen year period. Groups were assigned based upon the year of graduation. The largest reported difference between the groups was the percentage of students pursuing community practice, increasing from 25% to 51.8% between the groups, respectively (p <0.0001). Additionally, a significant reduction in percentage of students pursuing residency training was also noted, decreasing between Group I (36.2%) and Group III (23.7%), with p = 0.006. There were no significant changes in the percentage of students taking hospital positions throughout the study duration. Conclusions: Over the last 13 years, the percentage of students from The University of Arizona College of Pharmacy that choose community pharmacy as their initial employment is increasing. The percentage of students starting out in hospital pharmacy has remained relatively stable, while the fraction of students choosing to pursue residency training is declining. This trend may be influenced by a variety of factors, including increased salaries in community pharmacy, more openings in the retail practice area, and increased competition for residency positions.