2025 Year-End Insights

The workforce dedicated to animal (veterinary and conservation) and plant welfare is characterized by high dedication and a projected strong demand, yet it struggles with significant wage and work-life balance challenges. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) consistently points to a much faster than average growth rate for occupations in this sector.1 For instance, the employment of Veterinarians is projected to grow by ten percent, while Veterinary Technologists and Technicians are projected to grow by nine percent, and Animal Care and Service Workers by eleven percent from 2024 to 2034, all significantly outpacing the average for all occupations (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Veterinarians"; "Veterinary Technologists and Technicians"; "Animal Care and Service Workers").2 This demand is fueled by increased pet ownership, consumers’ willingness to spend on advanced medical treatments comparable to human healthcare, and a general rise in awareness regarding animal and plant health.3

Economically, the industry is underpinned by steady financial growth, specifically in the veterinary services segment. Data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED) demonstrates a consistent rise in the Total Revenue for Veterinary Services, indicating a robust commercial environment driven by pet spending and specialized care. Additionally, the increase in the Producer Price Index for Pharmaceuticals for Veterinary Use suggests continued investment and innovation in medical products and advanced treatment options within the sector (FRED via U.S. Census Bureau, "Total Revenue for Veterinary Services, All Establishments, Employer Firms"; FRED via U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Producer Price Index by Industry: Pharmaceutical Preparation Manufacturing: Pharmaceuticals for Veterinary Use"). Despite this market strength, a stark pay disparity exists between highly compensated veterinarians and the often underpaid support staff, such as veterinary technicians, who are critical to daily operations.

Sentiment shared across social media platforms over the last 45 days is dominated by discussions of burnout, moral fatigue, and compassion fatigue. Professionals in high-stress roles, especially veterinary technicians and those in shelter medicine, often report feeling constrained by the low pay relative to the intense emotional and technical demands of the work, leading to high turnover. A notable trend is the advocacy for greater industry-wide recognition and utilization of technicians' skills, often through specialized credentials, as a means to increase compensation and job satisfaction. For conservation and plant welfare roles, workers express frustration over scarcity of funding and the project-based, seasonal nature of employment, which creates significant long-term instability despite a deep passion for the work.

To explore new opportunities, workers in this industry are successfully leveraging their medical and technical knowledge to transition into non-clinical, higher-paying roles.4 A successful strategy is the pivot to corporate animal health opportunities, such as becoming a Veterinary Pharmaceutical Sales Representative or a technical advisor for pet food and insurance companies, where clinical knowledge commands a salary premium and offers better work-life balance (AVMA, "Careers - veterinary technician"; Unity Environmental University, "12 Alternative Career Paths for Veterinary Techs").5 Similarly, many are moving into research and laboratory animal medicine roles, using their technical skills in controlled environments often found in universities or private biomedical research labs.6 Others are finding success in practice management, obtaining certifications like Certified Veterinary Practice Manager (CVPM), allowing them to remain in the veterinary sphere while utilizing administrative and business acumen to secure higher management salaries and more predictable hours.7 Conservation and plant workers, in turn, successfully parlay their fieldwork and analytical skills into government or non-profit compliance roles, focusing on permitting, regulation enforcement, and environmental data analysis.

Q4 2025 Insights

The CPI for Veterinary Services continues its steep climb. This creates a growing financial dilemma for pet owners, leading to a massive increase in demand for pet insurance and emergency financing options.

Social pet forums are rife with discussions about euthanasia due to cost, highlighting the severe ethical burden placed on low and middle-income pet owners. This qualitative crisis point creates a public mandate for more accessible, subsidized veterinary care models, which could become a political and social flashpoint in Q4. Workers in veterinary services are demoralized and often face financial issues when operating emergency veterinary clinics that service metropolitan areas.

Workers and volunteers within animal welfare are losing jobs and worried about the security of their organizations due to Federal spending cuts and freezes.

August 2025

In terms of vocalization of issues, most of the feedback for this past month emanates from the veterinary field in this category. That said, as with most industries today, workers are reporting toxic workplace cultures. These are often characterized by poor management, a lack of communication, and a "Mean Girls Club" mentality among staff. This further compounds the stress, as employees feel they lack a safe and supportive environment to process the emotional demands of their job. Whether or not goals are altruistic, as we would hope within the fields of human or animal health and welfare, politics and inefficient, irrational, and pathetically “human” emotions that are traced back to insecurities and false pretenses of superiority only make stronger arguments for AI replacing humans, which is a shame in this industry and welfare-related industries in general.

With workers in veterinary care who are deeply passionate about helping animals, this passion is often seen as a double-edged sword. While it motivates them to endure difficult conditions, it can also be exploited by employers who expect employees to go above and beyond without adequate compensation or support. This leads to a sentiment of feeling unappreciated and taken advantage of, which is a major driver for professionals leaving the field. Online discussions are filled with frustrations over under-staffing, which leads to overwork and a lack of support. There is widespread belief that vet technicians and assistants are drastically underpaid for their highly skilled and emotionally demanding work, leading to high turnover.

The most significant source of stress is not just burnout from long hours and low pay, but "compassion fatigue," defined as “the emotional and physical exhaustion from caring for animals in distress.” Veterinary professionals frequently share stories of the profound emotional toll of euthanasia, dealing with pet owners who can't afford treatment, and the daily exposure to animal suffering. The transference of pet owner emotions from sadness to even anger on these employees leads to a sense of disillusionment.