ANZSCO 2524-11New South Wales

Occupational TherapistJune 2017

Labour Economics Office New South Wales

Department of Employment

Current labour market ratingNo shortage

Previous labour market rating (June 2016)No shortage

Comments

The most recent research shows that there is no shortage of occupational therapists for the fifth consecutive year, with both metropolitan and regional employers filling their advertised vacancies with little difficulty.

Survey results

  • A Department of Employment survey of employers who had recently advertised for occupational therapists found that83 per cent of vacancies were filled within the survey period. This figure was lower than the average for the previous four years (90 per cent).
  • There was an average of 8.3 applicants per vacancy and 8.1 qualified applicants per vacancy, which were the lowest numbers recorded since 2014.
  • An average of 2.6 applicants per vacancy were considered suitable by employers compared with 3.1in 2016.
  • Surveyed employers in both Sydney and regional New South Wales filled 83 per cent of their vacancies. Metropolitan employers attracted more applicants per vacancy on average than their regional counterparts (12.2 compared with 4.3), and recorded greater suitable applicants per vacancy (2.8) than regional employers (2.3).
  • One fifth of employers advised that their vacancy failed to attract any suitable applicants.
  • Employers were generally able to fill vacancies with little difficulty across a range of institutions (private practices, public and private hospitals, rehabilitation clinics and not-for-profit organisations) and modalities (paediatrics, aged care and disabilities).

Unsuitable applicants

  • Around 68per cent of qualified applicants were considered to be unsuitable.
  • The most cited reason related to experience. While some qualified applicants were graduates who did not have the requisite number of years of experience sought by employers, others lacked clinical experience or specific experience in the modality advertised such as disability and aged care.
  • Some qualified applicants were not deemed suitable based on their performance when interviewed.
  • A small number of qualified applicants were not considered suitable as they did not have registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
  • Only 2 per cent of applicants were unqualified and therefore unsuitable.

Demand and supply trends

  • Demand for occupational therapists has grown steadily in recent years due to the growth and ageing of the population, an increasing incidence of chronic disease, increased government expenditure on health, disability and aged care, and the increasing role of the profession in patient care and rehabilitation.
  • Data from the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority shows that there were 75,000 general treatment ancillary occupation therapy services (covered by private health insurance but not by Medicare) in New South Wales over the 12 months to June 2016, an increase of 10.3 per cent over the same period to June 2015.[1]
  • The National Disability Insurance Scheme will be rolled out across all districts in New South Wales from 1 July 2017 and is expected to increase demand for occupational therapists.
  • Vacancies advertised on the Internet for this occupation in New South Wales increased over the year to June 2017, to the highest level since the Department’s vacancy index began in 2006.[2]
  • Entry to this profession is via a four-year Bachelor of Occupational Therapy and registration with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia.
  • In March 2017, there were around 5284 registered and practicing occupational therapists in New South Wales, a rise of 6.6 per cent compared with the same time last year and 30.9 per cent higher than in March 2013.[3]
  • The number of domestic students commencing a bachelor degree in Occupational Therapy in New South Wales universities averaged around 390 in the two years ended 2015, which was 13.5 per cent higher than the average in the previous five years.
  • Bachelor degree completions have also increased and in 2015 were at their highest level (279) since 2005. Their average level in the two years ended 2015 was 6.2 per cent above the average in the previous five years.[4]
  • The number of primary applicant 457 temporary skilled migration visas granted to occupational therapists is very small compared to bachelor degree completions, with 12 visas being granted in 2016-17 in New South Wales.[5]

Other indicators and issues

  • Both the demand for Occupational Therapists and entry to bachelor degree courses in this field are rising.

Labour Economics Office New South Wales

Department of Employment

[1] Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, Operations of Private Health Insurers Annual Report, various reporting periods,

[2]Department of Employment, Internet Vacancy Index, June 2017, 12 month moving average.

[3]AHPRA: Occupational Therapy Board of Australia, Registrant Data, various reporting periods,

[4] Department of Education and Training, Higher Education Student Data Collection, 2015, customised tables.

[5]Department of Immigration and Border Protection,