The sector being hit hard by job vacancies

There is one sector in particular that is struggling to keep up with demand off the back of rising job vacancies.

According to Aussie recruitment specialist company Omega Medical, the last 12 months have seen a 7 per cent increase in the number of vacancies in the healthcare sector. The figure, which was released this month, signals a 34.5 per cent climb from February 2021.

Breaking down the figures, Omega’s Job Index notes permanent vacancies are up 7.8 per cent, locum vacancies are up 10.4 per cent, and national vacancies are up 8.6 per cent.

“The demand for medical staff is accelerating again this year, and there are ample opportunities for job seekers in the healthcare sector,” said John Codner, managing director, Omega Medical.

“This bodes well for job seekers as salaries are sure to rise, but not for hospitals and clinics desperate for staff. The market that exploded here during COVID continues to rise in the face of acute shortages.”

The highest number of job postings in the 12 months to now were for nursing roles, the research showed. Meanwhile, demand for medical practitioners rose by 25 per cent over 12 months, aged care professionals by 17.6 per cent, and medical technician roles by 10.8 per cent.

Over a two-year period, demand for general practitioners rose 84.3 per cent.

Western Australia was identified as the state seeing the strongest demand for healthcare professionals, generally speaking, with an increase of 16 per cent, followed by NSW, with demand up by 9.9 per cent across both the public and private health sectors.

Victoria was the only state to experience a decline in demand of -2.6 per cent.

Mr Codner said the research highlights the need for healthcare employers to adapt to changing work environments, including remote work and locum positions and that employers who are willing to offer flexible work arrangements are more likely to attract top talent.

“While everyone is aware of the acute GP shortages in regional and remote areas of Australia, there are unfortunately no quick fixes to the systemic shortages that have been building for years. In fact, the index shows employers are crying out for full-time staff to fill long outstanding vacancies,” he said.

“Those offering the best salaries, conditions and environment will be the winners in a ‘dog-eat-dog’ market. We’re committed to helping our clients find the right healthcare professionals to meet their staffing needs and to helping healthcare professionals find fulfilling careers in this pressured market.”