Brussels, 09/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - The increasing labour demand in the healthcare sector has been confirmed by the most recent European Vacancy Monitor (EVM) published by the European Commission on Monday 9 September. Employment in the EU healthcare sector has grown almost 2% annually between 2008 and 2012. This is the result of the combined effects of an ageing population, advances in technology and treatment, people expecting higher quality service and greater emphasis on preventative care. In 2012 almost one million people were hired to work in healthcare.
Nevertheless the Monitor reflects falling demand overall in the EU labour market, with 6% fewer vacancies in the fourth quarter of 2012 compared with the last quarter of 2011. The number of people hired was down in the fourth quarter of 2012 in most of the main occupational groups and fell for 'professionals' for the first time since the second quarter of 2010 (by 5%).
The professions with the highest growth in employees after personal care workers in health services were software applications developers and analysts, administrative and specialised secretaries, mining, manufacturing and construction supervisors and primary school and early childhood teachers.
Laszlo Andor, Commissioner for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, said that, “the latest report confirms that healthcare is one of the sectors with the greatest potential for job creation in Europe and so where investment in training is urgent”.
Personal care in health services ranked first among the fastest growing occupations between the fourth quarter of 2011 and the fourth quarter of 2012. Three other health jobs are ranked in the top-25 growing professions: nursing and midwifery professionals, medical and pharmaceutical technicians and other health associated professionals e.g. dentists, pharmacists, physiotherapists. In the medium term, job prospects look most promising for nurses and midwives.
The report also highlights that a number of countries may have to deal with the challenge of an ageing workforce in the health sector. For example, more than 40% of the healthcare workforce in Bulgaria and the Baltic states is between 50 and 64, which is significantly higher than the EU average.
Hiring increases in the healthcare sector contrast with the general trend reflected in the European Vacancy Monitor, with a fall of approximately 4% in hiring in the EU27 between the fourth quarters of 2012 and 2011. Hiring was down in most occupational groups and fell for the first time since the second quarter of 2010 for professionals. At the same time, hiring of those with tertiary education increased by 2% and may indicate that more professionals accepted jobs below their qualifications.
The growth potential for long term care work will be at the focus of a conference on “More and Better Jobs in Home Care Services” organised on 12 September in Brussels by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound).
The healthcare sector employs directly around one in every ten workers in the EU, with Germany and the UK employing some 60% of healthcare staff in the EU27 according to the European Vacancy Monitor. (LC/transl.fl)