Workforce Survey
Council collects workforce data from doctors as part of the renewal of practising certificates.
This data collection is additional to what we use to maintain doctors' registration and includes information around hours worked per week, hours on-call, ethnicity and detailed employment information like employer type, work role, and work type down to sub-specialty level.
This information can then be analysed to identify changes or trends in the medical workforce.
Published results
The most recent published survey results are shown below. To see the full list of available reports, go to our Publications page and filter the list to 'Workforce Statistics'.
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This report presents the results of our 2024 workforce survey. Key findings include the continuing increase in the proportion of Māori and female doctors in the workforce, as well as a 3.4 percent increase in the overall size of the workforce.
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This report presents the results of our 2022 workforce survey. Key findings in this report include that the proportion of Māori doctors increased to 4.7 percent, the proportion of female doctors increased to 47.9 percent, and the total number of practising doctors increased to 19,350.
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This report presents the results of our 2022 workforce survey. Key findings in this report include that the proportion of Māori doctors increased, but there is much work needed to achieve a Māori medical workforce proportionate to population and need. The proportion of female doctors increased - women will outnumber men in the workforce by 2025. The total number of practising doctors increased by 2.9 percent to 18,780.
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This report presents the results of our 2021 workforce survey. The report again highlights that Māori doctors are under-represented in the medical workforce but the positive trends in undergraduate and graduate levels continue. Other key findings include that the proportion of female of doctors increased to 47 percent, the number of practising doctors increased by 3.6 percent, and the fastest-growing specialties were emergency medicine, urgent care, and internal medicine.
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This report presents the results of our 2020 workforce survey. The report continues to highlight that Māori doctors are under-represented in the medical workforce, but there are positive trends at undergraduate and graduate levels. The fastest growing specialties in 2020 were diagnostic radiology, urgent care, and emergency medicine.
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This report presents the results of our workforce survey for 2019. Key findings in this report include that Māori doctors are under-represented in the medical workforce but there are positive developments at undergraduate and graduate levels, the proportion of female doctors increased, the number of practising doctors increased, and that the fastest growing specialties are diagnostic radiology, urgent care, and emergency medicine.
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This report presents the results of the Medical Council of New Zealand workforce surveys for 2018. It contains information about changes in the medical workforce including retention rates for doctors.
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This report presents the results of the Medical Council of New Zealand workforce surveys for 2017. It contains information about changes in the medical workforce including retention rates for doctors.
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This report presents the results of the Medical Council of New Zealand workforce surveys for 2016. It contains information about changes in the medical workforce including retention rates for doctors.
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This report presents the results of the Medical Council of New Zealand workforce surveys for 2015. It contains information about changes in the medical workforce including retention rates for doctors.
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This report presents the results of the Medical Council of New Zealand workforce surveys for 2013 and 2014. It contains information about changes in the medical workforce including retention rates for doctors.
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This report presents the results of the Medical Council of New Zealand workforce surveys for 2012. It contains information about changes in the medical workforce including retention rates for doctors.
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This report summarises the most relevant results of the Medical Council of New Zealand 2011 workforce survey. It contains information about changes in the medical workforce including retention rates for doctors.
Requesting further analysis of data
If you require more detailed or different analysis of this data you should first contact the Ministry of Health.
If you have any questions about the reports or the information they contain, please contact us using the contact form on this website selecting the enquiry subject of Workforce Survey.
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This section of the Ministry of Health's website provides a central location for accessing New Zealand health data and health statistics collected and produced by the Ministry of Health and wider health sector.
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