Weekly Comment
11 Feb 19
February 11, 2019
THIS week’s
contributor is -
Robert Whelan,
Managing Director of AP Group -
Graduate Employment
in Pharmacy: What
really is the state of play for
pharmacy graduates in Australia
and how employable are they
when all that study is finally done
and dusted?
Pharmacy has traditionally held
up well as a highly employable
vocation, with 2018 survey results
showing that 92.5% of pharmacy
graduates are attaining fulltime
work within four months of
graduation.
While no-doubt welcomed,
these figures need to be viewed
through the highly-regulated
lens of pharmacy in Australia. The
regulation of pharmacy ownership
throughout the states and
territories, coupled with location
rules applying to community
pharmacy pose a significant
problem.
There are simply not enough
pharmacies in the country
(around 5600) to accommodate a
reasonable rate of ownership or at
least a partnership scenario for the
recently graduated.
Recent registrant data from the
Pharmacy Board of Australia tells
us there are now just over 31,000
registered pharmacists in Australia,
with well over half of those under
45 years of age. That means
there’s now approximately five
registered pharmacists for every
one pharmacy in Australia.
The fact that 92.5% of graduates
are in full time employment
within four months is fantastic,
but the reality is a genuine lack
of ownership opportunities for
first-time buyers and pharmacy
graduates.
Like many other industries,
pharma graduates must look at
what other skills they can bring to
the table.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 11 Feb 19To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 11 Feb 19
