Job Preferences of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Workers: A Discrete Choice Experiment in China

Abstract

Background The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) in China face retention and recruit challenges, which impact the efficiency and performance of disease control and prevention. This study explores the career choice preferences of CDC workers by conducting a discrete choice experiment, which provides CDC management information and recommendations for optimizing employee retention and motivation policies. Methods A discrete choice experiment was conducted in nine provinces in China, where seven key job preference attributes were identified through a literature review and expert consultation to analyze the job choice preferences of CDC workers. A mixed logit model, latent class model, and a policy simulation tool were estimated. Results A total of 7071 respondents from 117 CDC were surveyed, with a valid sample of 5944 cases included for analysis after consistency testing. Our main findings were that all seven attributes, including income, welfare benefits, bianzhi, workload, acceptance and respect from the public, opportunities for career development, and job skill training, significantly influenced CDC workers' job choices. Heterogeneity analyses identified two main groups based on different levels of preference for the utility of attributes. Income-prioritisers were concerned with income, opportunities for career development, and welfare benefits, while bianzhi-prioritiserswere concerned with bianzhi, welfare benefits and income. The policy simulation analysis found that the income-prioritisers had relatively higher sensitivity to multiple job preference incentives. Conclusion Income and bianzhi were two key attributes that influence the job choice and retention preferences of CDC workers. We also identified heterogeneity in job choice preferences. We suggest providing different retention management programs and work incentive strategies based on the preference characteristics of different subgroups of CDCs workers, taking into account realistic feasibility and cost-effectiveness.