This research explores the employment patterns and professional transitions among pharmacy alumni in China, with the goal of tackling issues related to workforce sustainability and guidance in the field. Amid the swift growth of China's health services industry, it is essential to examine elements that affect occupational shifts and professional selections to promote staff retention and advancement. The investigation includes individuals who pursued pharmacy studies at Kunming Medical University between 1996 and 2012. In April 2022, an internet-based cross-sectional questionnaire gathered responses from 231 participants, emphasizing personal details, professional paths, occupational transitions, and determinants of those choices. Statistical evaluation involved multivariate logistic regression models alongside Chi-square (χ²) analyses, particularly examining areas such as pharmacy practice, pharmaceutical research, and clinical pharmacy.
Among the 231 participants, 52.4% (n = 121) reported no occupational shifts, while 32.5% (n = 75) indicated one or two changes. Most favored positions in public sector organizations (n = 146, 63.2%), compared to local pharmaceutical companies (n = 48, 20.8%) or international ones (n = 20, 8.7%). Compensation levels and opportunities for self-development emerged as key influencers of transitions (p < 0.05). Those with three or more shifts showed stronger prioritization of self-development (Relative Risk Ratio [RRR]: 2.96; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: [1.6, 5.49]). The findings highlight notable differences in professional transitions and selections among pharmacy alumni in China. Individuals employed in public organizations exhibited reduced transition rates, whereas higher rates appeared in pharmaceutical firms and unrelated fields. Primary influencers included compensation, self-development, and workplace conditions.
