AGENT TURNOVER IN OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to determine the reasons why agents voluntarily leave Ohio State University Extension. Between January 1, 1990 and December 31, 1994, 67 county agents voluntarily left OSU Extension. The specific objectives of the study were to: a) describe county agents who voluntarily left OSU Extension based on selected characteristics and b) determine the percentage of county agents who voluntarily left OSU Extension due to organizational, individual work-related, and individual non-work related factors. Based upon the findings of the study, agents who voluntarily leave OSU Extension are most likely to be Caucasian females, in their early thirties holding a Master*s degree who are married with no children. They are also more likely to be in a non-tenure track position in a single county working in the 4-H program area. Furthermore, the results of this study reveal county agents are most likely to leave OSU Extension because of other priorities in their lives, other job offers, insufficient pay for the amount of work performed, family obligations, too many late night meetings, too many work responsibilities, and attraction to more money elsewhere.