Vet council analyses NZ workforce

01-05-2010 | Not Specified

The Veterinary Council of New Zealand, in response to concerns about the lack of good data on veterinary shortages, has committed to an annual analysis of the veterinary workforce.

Until now commentary on the veterinary workforce's capability to meet demand has been based largely on anecdotal evidence.

Veterinary Council chair Dr Ron Gibson said annual analysis of the workforce would provide quality data over time.

"This will better inform analyses on how well demand for veterinary services is being met, and allow earlier identification of shortages or oversupply problems."

The council is particularly interested in tracking retention rates of Massey, and overseas, graduates. New Zealand is reliant on overseas graduates to supplement the workforce.

The changing demographics of the workforce, geographical distribution and work fields would be other areas of focus, Dr Gibson said.

Recent figures show the workforce has increased by 29% since 2002, and there were 2360 practising veterinarians in New Zealand in 2009. This represents 58 veterinarians to 100,000 head of population.

Dr Gibson said 31% of the active workforce received their primary veterinary degree overseas, and that women veterinarians now comprise almost half of the active veterinary workforce.

In 2004 and 2005 the three-year retention rate for Massey graduates was 93% and 91% respectively. Retention rates for international graduates were in general less than that of Massey graduates.

"There has been a progressive aging of the workforce," Dr Gibson said. "The retirement of significant numbers of veterinarians will be a feature over the next few years and needs to be matched by the recruitment of new veterinarians to meet demand."

New Zealand needed the right number of veterinarians, with the right skill sets working in the right places at the right time - and the workforce analysis would better inform the ongoing work of MAF, NZVA and the council to achieve this, he said.

Points about vets:

• Veterinarians are required to renew their practising certificates annually;

• The number of veterinarians ranged from 14 per 100,000 in the Carterton district to 246 per 100,000 in Matamata-Piako;

• Graduates from the United Kingdom comprise the largest group of internationally educated veterinarians (9%) followed by Australia (8%);

• Based on details provided for the 2008 practising year, 34% of veterinarians worked with large animals, 39% with companion animals and 26% in laboratories, regulatory activities, teaching, research and epidemiology;

• In 2009, veterinarians 25-30 comprised 10% of the active workforce, a decrease from 12% recorded in 2002. This is matched by an increase in the numbers of veterinarians aged 50-55 from 10% in 2002 to 13% in 2009;

• For New Zealand-trained veterinarians first registering with VCNZ in 2002 and 2003, 85% and 83% respectively continued to take out an Annual Practising Certificate after three years.

There was a high rate of loss of international graduates after two years - probably reflecting these veterinarians returning to their country of origin following a working holiday in NZ. Ongoing monitoring of this aspect of the profession will allow trends in retention to be identified with greater certainty;

• In 2002 there were 1833 vets and in 2009, 2360.

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