3,800 new jobs in nursing homes
A shift in the labour market over the next 12 months could see strong employment growth in the nursing home sector, according to business monitors, IBISWorld.
The firm predicts that Australia’s unemployment rate will rise to 6.5% by the end of the year, giving a boost to employers’ bargaining power.
The global financial crisis could also see employees shift to essential service sectors such as health and aged care which are guaranteed to have ongoing strong demand because of the ageing population.
“In the health sector that is going to mean a transfer of employees from a lot of discretionary services such as acupuncture and massage to places like nursing homes,” said IBISWorld senior analyst, Richard Jeremiah.
“There is the potential that people in these more discretionary markets will lose their jobs or experience pay cuts so you might see people like physios or podiatrists, starting to focus more on doing rounds in nursing homes.”
Overall IBISWorld estimates that 3,800 new places will be created this year in the residential aged care sector.
One of the reasons for this confidence is the diversity of job types on offer in nursing homes.
In particular, Mr Jeremiah said increasing pressure on small business could create opportunities for nursing homes seeking to employ experienced business administrators.
“Although interest rates are falling, banks are still lending at high rates so in small business a lot of people will probably be made redundant and there is no doubt that they will be looking for work,” he said.
“The nursing home sector is potentially in a good position to attract these business administrators and hopefully they will be able to improve the profitability of some of those homes that are struggling.”
However, Mr Jeremiah stressed that these predictions are contingent on the Commonwealth Government maintaining its commitment to provide adequate funding and bed numbers to support this growth.
