The public healthcare sector in Tanzania, particularly in Mbeya, faces significant challenges in retaining its workforce, which exacerbates inefficiencies and diminishes the effectiveness of healthcare service delivery. High turnover among healthcare personnel is influenced by factors that drive employee retention. This study investigates the associations between personal growth, job security, and employee retention, considering job satisfaction as a key mediating variable. A cross-sectional research design was employed, involving 278 healthcare workers from public hospitals in Mbeya, Tanzania. Data were gathered using validated questionnaires assessing four constructs: personal growth, job security, job satisfaction, and employee retention. The results revealed that both personal growth and job satisfaction exerted a positive and significant impact on employee retention, whereas job security did not show a direct significant effect. Furthermore, job satisfaction demonstrated a positive and significant mediating role in the relationships between personal growth, job security, and employee retention. These findings suggest that administrators of public hospitals and policymakers should emphasise initiatives that promote personal growth and foster a work environment conducive to job satisfaction as fundamental components of strategies to retain healthcare staff, thereby ensuring a stable and sustainable workforce.