LMI, supply and demand

The concept of supply and demand within the labour workforce, and the use of labour market information (LMI), can be illustrated by considering a specific profession: dentistry.

For a school leaver considering this profession, the University of Otago is the only provider of dentistry training nationally. Programme intake is limited annually to 60 students, so entry competition is fierce. Yet, despite these seemingly low student numbers, “newly-qualified dentists may find it difficult to find work, because there is strong competition for vacancies” (Careers New Zealand, 2023). 

Why strong competition for roles? Because overseas-trained dentists seek work in New Zealand (Hooper, 2022); the dental profession is listed as a key skill shortage, allowing migrants to apply for a skilled migrant category visa to work here (Immigration New Zealand, 2023; Money Hub, 2022). What is also interesting is that there is a critical shortage of dentists in the regions (Hooper, 2022), yet the 'Regional Skill Shortage list' does not list dentistry (Immigration New Zealand, 2023).

So we have a supply and demand issue: too many dentists for too few jobs... in the main centres, at least.  The Covid-19 pandemic has also exacerbated the unevenness of service delivery, with school children - who should receive free dental care - being under-served (Houpt, 2023). There are stories of people going to Hospital EDs - around the country - in an effort to receive dental care for what has become potentially life-threatening infections (Anderson, 2022; Houpt, 2023)... so how is there a glut of dentists? Are they not being employed? Perhaps this is a temporary impact of Covid-19?

Only time will tell. As career practitioners we need to be careful to use current LMI when we assist clients with their career decisions (Bimrose, 2021). We need to understand not only access to training, but competition for work, and both urban and regional graduate employment, so we can supply an accurate reality check (Careers New Zealand, 2023).

Sam

References:

Anderson, V. (2020). New Zealand's dental care in a 'state of crisis'. Stuff. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/health/123020815/new-zealands-dental-care-in-a-state-of-crisis

Bimrose, J. (2021). Chapter 20: Labour Market Information for Career Development: Pivotal or Peripheral?. In P. J. Robertson, T. Hooley, & P. McCash (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Career Development (pp. 283-295). Oxford University Press.

Careers New Zealand. (2023). Dentist. https://www.careers.govt.nz/jobs-database/health-and-community/health/dentist/#how-to-enter-the-job

Hooper, L. (2022, July 5). Southland dentists 'burnt out' as clinician capacity reached. Stuff. https://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/129147342/southland-dentists-burnt-out-as-clinician-capacity-reached

Houpt, E. (2023, May 3). Dentist says Government ‘not doing enough’, calls for dental health to be prioritised. New Zealand Herald. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-daily-post/news/dentist-says-government-not-doing-enough-calls-for-dental-health-to-be-prioritised/ERFKBLP4A5BZDLGJIANNSZ4MXM/

Immigration New Zealand. (2023). Skill Shortage List Checker. https://skillshortages.immigration.govt.nz/dentist/

Money Hub (2022, March 30). What to Study in 2023: Dentist. https://www.moneyhub.co.nz/what-to-study.html