NSW medical workforce

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Workforce characteristics for NSW medical workforce in 2021

35,878
Headcount

44.9%
Female

39.3
Work hours per week

45.8
Years average age

19.2%
Aged 60+

Characteristics for NSW medical graduates in 2021

1,048
Headcount

51.8%
Female

2.0%
Graduate growth
2015 - 2019

79.6%
NSW graduates that are Australian residents/citizens

New medical graduates from NSW universities

Year 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
New medical graduates 1027 1083 1074 1089 1048

Workforce requirement for NSW medical workforce by 2040

Reasonable career opportunities

Workforce modelling indicates the need for some growth in the medical workforce by around 165 to 212 new NSW doctors per annum entering the workforce to meet community need in 2040 across both low and high demand scenarios.

Demand is expected to grow 2.2% (low demand scenario) to 2.3% (high demand scenario.

In 2040 the average fellow will be 47.2 years old (if new entries enter the workforce).

Workforce distribution for NSW medical workforce in 2021

Total NSW

SectorPercentage
Public 38.1%
Private 41.8%
Public and private 18.0%
Other 2.1%
SectorPercentage
Public 45.9%
Private 43.1%
Other 11.0%

Metropolitan Sydney

23,881
Headcount

39.2
Work hours per week

46.1
Years average age

20.2%
Aged 60+

TimeframeNext 1-2 years Next 3-5 years Next 6-10 years
Percentage 20% 41%
 27%

Non-metropolitan Sydney

11,997
Headcount

39.5
Work hours per week

45.1
Years average age

17%
Aged 60+

TimeframeNext 1-2 years Next 3-5 years Next 6-10 years
Percentage 31%
 40% 22%

Workforce distribution for NSW medical workforce in 2021 by local health district

Legend

Medical workforce per local health district

1-500 501-2000 2001-3500 3501-5000 5000+

FTE per local health district

1-500 501-2000 2001-3500 3501-5000 5000+

Medical workforce per 100,000 population

1-150 151-300 301-450 451-600 600+

Workforce considerations

  • Workforce modelling is based on current models of care. Any change in the models may impact on requirements.
  • Any changes to current training programs will affect the workforce modelling outcome.
  • Workforce modelling is based on current workforce hours profile by age co-hours. Any changes to hours worked by future clinicians will affect the model.
  • There is an accepted error rate of plus or minus two per cent within workforce modelling.
  • The model does not address any mal-distribution either by location (rural or regional) or sector (public or private).

Notes

Data source: The National Health Workforce Dataset – Australian Government Department of Health; The Medical Education and Training in Australia Report (MET).

Current as at: Wednesday 5 July 2023
Contact page owner: Workforce Planning and Talent Development