The healthcare sector in New Zealand is facing a significant shortage of skilled workers, which is expected to worsen in the coming years due to factors such as population aging, increasing demand for healthcare services, and workforce attrition. According to a report by the Health Workforce Advisory Committee (HWAC), New Zealand's healthcare workforce is projected to fall short by 15,000 workers by 2030, with shortages particularly acute in fields such as mental health, primary care, and aged care.
To address this shortage, the healthcare sector in New Zealand has increasingly turned to migrant workers. Migrant workers bring a wealth of knowledge, experience, and diversity to the healthcare workforce, and can help fill the gaps in the local labor market. However, hiring migrant workers also presents challenges, such as navigating visa requirements, cultural differences, and language barriers. In this blog post, we will explore in greater detail why the healthcare sector in New Zealand needs to hire migrant workers, and what steps employers can take to ensure successful integration of migrant workers into the workforce.
One of the most pressing reasons for hiring migrant workers in the healthcare sector in New Zealand is to address workforce shortages. As mentioned earlier, the healthcare workforce in New Zealand is projected to fall short by 15,000 workers by 2030, and shortages are already being felt in certain fields such as mental health, primary care, and aged care. According to the HWAC report, there are currently 1,500 vacancies for registered nurses in New Zealand, with projections that this number will rise to 15,000 by 2030. The report also highlights shortages in other fields such as medical laboratory science, pharmacy, and dental hygiene.
Migrant workers can help fill these gaps in the healthcare workforce by bringing in skills and experience that are in short supply in the local labor market. For instance, New Zealand has been recruiting nurses from countries such as the Philippines, India, and the United Kingdom to address shortages in the nursing workforce. Similarly, healthcare providers have been recruiting doctors from countries such as the United Kingdom, South Africa, and the United States to address shortages in fields such as general practice and psychiatry.
Another reason why the healthcare sector in New Zealand needs to hire migrant workers is to enhance diversity and cultural competency in the workforce. Migrant workers bring with them a range of experiences and cultural backgrounds, which can enrich the delivery of healthcare services. For instance, migrant workers may have experience in working with patients from different cultural backgrounds, which can help improve cultural competency among healthcare workers. This, in turn, can help healthcare providers better understand the needs of diverse communities and deliver healthcare services that are tailored to these needs.
In addition, migrant workers can help address language barriers that may exist between healthcare providers and patients. In New Zealand, the Maori language is an official language, and there are also significant numbers of people who speak Pacific Island languages or Asian languages. Hiring migrant workers who are fluent in these languages can help improve communication between healthcare providers and patients, which can lead to better health outcomes.
Migrant workers also bring with them a range of skills and experience that can benefit the healthcare sector in New Zealand. For instance, healthcare workers from countries with different healthcare systems may have experience in areas such as tropical medicine or infectious diseases that are relevant to New Zealand's healthcare needs. By hiring migrant workers, employers can tap into this knowledge and experience, and improve the quality of healthcare services.
In addition, migrant workers may have experience in using innovative technologies or approaches that are not yet widely used in New Zealand. For instance, migrant workers from Europe or North America may have experience in using electronic health records or telemedicine, which are not yet widely used in New Zealand's healthcare system. By hiring these workers, employers can introduce new technologies and approaches to the healthcare system, which can lead to better patient outcomes.
Another reason why the healthcare sector in New Zealand needs to hire migrant workers is to fill specialist roles that require highly specialized skills and knowledge. For instance, New Zealand has been recruiting mental health professionals from overseas to address shortages in the local workforce. Mental health professionals from countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada may have experience in treating conditions such as PTSD or eating disorders, which are not yet well-established in New Zealand's mental health system.
Similarly, migrant workers may have experience in treating rare or complex conditions that require highly specialized knowledge and skills. By hiring these workers, employers can fill specialist roles that are otherwise difficult to fill, and improve the quality of healthcare services.
Finally, the healthcare sector in New Zealand needs to hire migrant workers to address the aging of the local workforce. According to the HWAC report, the healthcare workforce in New Zealand is aging rapidly, with more than a third of the workforce aged 50 or over. As these workers retire, there will be significant gaps in the healthcare workforce, which will need to be filled by younger workers.
Migrant workers can help address this gap by providing a source of younger workers who can take on roles in the healthcare sector. For instance, New Zealand has been recruiting nurses from the Philippines, who are typically younger and more willing to work in aged care than local nurses. Similarly, doctors from overseas may be more willing to work in rural or remote areas, where there are shortages of local workers.
In conclusion, the healthcare sector in New Zealand needs to hire migrant workers to address workforce shortages, enhance diversity and cultural competency, tap into skills and experience, fill specialist roles, and address the aging of the workforce. However, hiring migrant workers also presents challenges, such as navigating visa requirements, cultural differences, and language barriers.
To ensure the successful integration of migrant workers into the workforce, employers need to take steps such as providing cultural training, language support, and mentoring programs. By doing so, employers can create a more diverse and effective healthcare workforce that can meet the needs of all New Zealanders.
