The number of female pharmacists in the workforce is rising
steadily, according to a report released today by the Australian
Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
Pharmacy Labour Force 1998 shows the number of women
employed as pharmacists increased by 25% between 1991 and 1996,
compared with a 4% increase for male pharmacists.
Co-author of the report, Warwick Conn, said that the rising
number of women in pharmacy was changing pharmacy work arrangements
in Australia because of lower average hours worked by female
pharmacists and lower rates of pharmacy ownership by them.
'Female community pharmacists worked on average 31 hours per
week in 1996 compared with 43 hours for males, while female
hospital pharmacists averaged 35 hours per week compared with 40
hours per week for males.
'And although 41% of community pharmacists in 1996 were women,
only 17% of sole proprietors and 26% of partner proprietors were
women'.
Female pharmacists were strongly represented in hospital
pharmacy, comprising 68% of that workforce in 1996.
Women also comprised 60% of Australian pharmacy graduates in
1997.
Overall, the number of employed pharmacists rose from 12,525 to
14,508 between 1992 and 1998, a 16% increase. This workforce growth
accords with a corresponding increase in the number of
prescriptions dispensed in the five years to 1998.
Mr Conn said that despite the increases in pharmacist numbers,
the Department of Employment, Workplace Relations and Small
Business has reported shortages of community and hospital
pharmacists in all States except New South Wales.
'The shortages are mainly in rural areas, where it has proved
difficult to replace retiring pharmacists or attract new
pharmacists to areas where they are needed'.
'There are indications however, that this situation may change
in the near future. There was a 50% increase in numbers of new
pharmacy students between 1993 and 1998 - and the rural shortages
are being addressed through the Government's Rural Pharmacy
Maintenance Allowance to support existing pharmacies and help new
pharmacies to start up in areas of need'.
Other findings in the report include:
- The number of pharmacies has remained almost unchanged in
recent years-there were 4,958 pharmacies in Australia in 1995 and
4,942 in 1999.
- The proportion of practising pharmacists who were born in
Australia declined from 85.3% in 1981 to 75.6% in 1996.
15 June 2000
Further information: Warwick Conn, AIHW, tel.
02 6244 1154.
For media copies of the report: Publications Officer,
tel. 02 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for availability.