Australian Junior doctor numbers have almost doubled in 10 years, leading to increased competition and a changing workforce composition according to the ANZ/Melbourne Institute Health Report.
Led by University of Melbourne Professor Anthony Scott, the study behind the report examined trends likely to influence the future of Australia’s medical practitioner workforce, finding junior doctor numbers increased by an average of 9.1% per year since 2005.
A more competitive career ladder is creating incentives for junior doctors to increase effort, attain further qualifications and network, but can also lead to a greater chance of burnout, stress and bullying, said Professor Scott. “Medicine has always been competitive, but this rise in numbers and increase in competition for coveted speciality training places will flow through to competition for jobs once they’re qualified.”
Other findings include an overall growth in the medical workforce of 5.2% a year (2.6% above population growth) with doctors’ earnings growing at 1.8% per year above inflation.
“More doctors have obvious implications for Australia’s health care costs and it’s important that population health outcomes also increase in line with this increase in supply,” said Prof Scott.
