Labour force - nurses and midwives

Nursing overview

Nurses and midwives are trained to provide services to promote, maintain and restore health and well-being. Most work in acute care hospitals, while others work in nursing homes and in community health centres. In terms of skill levels and areas of responsibility, the nursing workforce is not homogeneous, but varies widely according to the type of care being provided, and between work settings from operating theatres to community care.

For ease of discussion, throughout this site the term 'nurse' includes midwives.

Nurses are classified into two broad categories: registered nurses (usually with a degree), who make up the majority of all nurses, and enrolled nurses (usually a certificate or advanced diploma). Although the level of expertise varies within these groups, in general, registered nurses perform more complex medical procedures and hold more responsibility than do enrolled nurses. For instance, in most jurisdictions only registered nurses have the authority to administer medications. In general, registered nurses are more likely to be employed in critical or intensive care and less likely in geriatrics/gerontology; more likely to be employed in acute care hospitals and less likely in nursing homes; less likely to be working part-time; and more likely to work in capital cities, than enrolled nurses.

All employed nurses

The number of registered and enrolled nurses employed as nurses in Australia between 2001 and 2005 was estimated to have increased by 7.1%, from 228,230 to 244,360. This was mainly a result of an 8.2% increase in the number of employed registered nurses over the 5 year period. The number of employed enrolled nurses also increased, but to a lesser extent (2.3%). In 2005, 81.2% of nurses employed in Australia were registered nurses.

Employed registered and enrolled nurses and FTE per 100,000 population, states and territories, 2005

	NSW	Vic	Qld	WA	SA	Tas	ACT	NT	Australia
All nurses	73174	69,036	41,373	22,904	23,651	6,645	4,108	n.p.	244,360
Rate (per 100,000 population)	1,055	1,249	999	1,035	1,398	1,295	1,242	n.p.	1,133
Percent registered	83.8	76.5	84.7	83.4	75.4	85.7	83.4	n.p.	81.2

Between 2001 and 2005, the overall proportion of nurses working 50 hours or more rose, from 1.9% to 6.3%, while the proportion working part-time decreased, from 53.3% to 49.8%.

Overall, there was an apparent increase in nursing supply by 9.9% between 2001 and 2005, from 1,031 FTE nurses per 100,000 population to 1,133, based on a 35-hour week. This was mainly a result of both a 7.1% rise in the number of employed nurses and a 7.5% increase in the average hours they worked over this period.

Age

The average age of both registered and enrolled employed nurses increased between 2001 and 2005. In 2001, the average age of employed nurses was 42.2 years (42.1 years for registered and 42.5 years for enrolled nurses). In 2005, the average age was 45.1 years (45.0 years for registered and 45.5 years for enrolled nurses). The proportion of nurses who were aged 50 years or older also increased, from 24.4% to 35.8% over the same period.

Male participation

Nursing is a predominantly female occupation, with males comprising 7.9% of employed nurses in 2005 (down from 8.4% in 2001). The proportion of registered nurses who were male decreased between 2001 and 2005 (from 8.6% to 8.0%); while for enrolled nurses the male proportion was stable (7.3% in 2001 and 7.1% in 2005).

Employment sector

The profile of nurses by employment sector changed little between 2003 and 2005, with around two-thirds of nurses employed in the public sector (67.2% in 2003, 65.4% in 2004 and 65.9% in 2005). During these years nurses employed in the public sector worked, on average, 2.5 hours per week more than nurses employed in the private sector.

Clinical area of nursing

Of the 222,974 working in a clinical role in 2005, the largest proportions were employed in the areas of medical and surgical practice (31.5%), aged care (15.3%), critical care (14.4%), midwifery (8.4%) and perioperative nursing (7.5%).

Publications

• Nursing and midwifery labour force 2005 (18 January 2008)
• Nursing and midwifery labour force 2004 (20 December 2006)
• Nursing and midwifery labour force, South Australia, 2004 (3 March 2006)