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| The veterinary job market can be daunting... |
The Australian
veterinary job market is getting tighter, but not for everyone.
According to the
ABS Labour Force Survey, there were 7400 veterinarians employed in Australia in
2014 – with 10,436 registered to practice at 30 June 2013.
According to the
Department of Employment figures, most veterinary vacancies are filled quickly,
with an average of 7.3 applicants per position.
But only 79 per
cent of vacancies were filled. The unfilled vacancies were for veterinarians with at least
three year’s experience, those with skills working in large animals and those
with skills in specialist fields.
One of the challenges for new graduate veterinarians is to find a position so they can get that experience under their belt. The figures suggest this is a challenge, with 78.8 per cent of graduates in full time employment four months after graduation in 2013 (down from 80.8 per cent in 2012)
The pressure may increase with the Department of Education data showing that the number of domestic students starting a bachelor degree in vet science increased by 7 per cent from 2007 to 2012. It will be interesting to see the impact of the DVM model that many veterinary schools are introducing on both numbers and graduate employment.
Right now if you're keen on a job, it might be worth undertaking further training, considering a position in a non-metropolitan area, be willing to work long/afterhours and hone your surgery skills.
You can read the
full document here.
