Why Do Extension Agents Resign?

Abstract

The differences between those who leave and those who stay.As in many other states, employee turnover in Illinois is a serious problem in Extension.In the three-year period between March, 1979, and March, 1982, 63 Illinois field staff who had served 48 months or less in their positions resigned.Can Extension afford the costs of hiring agents who might soon leave their employment?Would better orientation, training, and supervision, and a more attractive organizational climate decrease Extension's turnover?In Illinois, we tried to find out why recently hired agents quit.We came up with some surprising answers that should be relevant to other states as well.