Release June 17, 2010
Mediuutiset:
Study of physicians’ perceptions of employers: Physicians’ job market heating
up
Physicians are seeking out new employment opportunities almost twice as often as other senior personnel. The attraction of the private sector, which is considered to be more flexible than the public sector, is growing. However, central and university hospitals, which operate in the public sector, still remain the most appealing workplaces due to the professional challenges they offer.
In April-May 2010 Mediuutiset conducted a study on physicians’ perceptions of employers. The study revealed that one in five physicians is actively seeking out possibilities to change jobs. This number is almost double that of senior personnel in other fields.
If all jobs were suddenly to become available at this moment, the number of physicians applying to work in the private sector would double. For one-third of physicians, lightening their workload is the primary reason for changing jobs. The appeal of private health care centres is about one and a half times greater among men than among women, despite the fact that flexibility at work was found to be more important to women than to men.
‘Physicians are always looking for new work. Specialised training alone is not enough to explain the findings of the study. Searching for a new employer is significantly affected by a poor work environment and long workdays at the current workplace, ’ Mediuutiset editor-in-chief Kimmo Seppälä remarks, and argues that if someone else is able to offer more humane work hours, there will be a willingness to change jobs.
Moving into supervisory positions is the primary motivation for only one in eight physicians. Furthering a specialised career is the most important motivating factor for a job change for every second physician. Compared to other professions, development and continuing education are exceptionally important among physicians, including those who are over the age of 50.
Challenges are inviting
Despite the attraction of the private sector, two-thirds of physicians still place a public employer at the forefront. Central and university hospitals are popular among 40 percent and public health centres among about 20 percent of physicians. About 25 percent of physicians would like to work primarily at private health centres. About five percent would like to work primarily for a company that provides physicians on an outsourced basis.
At central and university hospitals, physicians are interested in challenging work, the most demanding patient cases and development and learning possibilities. Public health centre work is seen as an important and multifaceted calling, where people are cared for comprehensively. At private health care centres, the ability to affect one’s own job description and working schedule is the most attractive factor.
Physicians also consider differences between individual workplaces. The work environment, development and educational possibilities, the quality of supervision and a reputation for quality care vary significantly among employers. HUS and TAYS in the public sector and Mehiläinen, Terveystalo and Attendo MedOne in the private sector are the most sought after employers.
Mediuutiset’s study on physicians’ perceptions of employers was conducted for the first time in April-May 2010, and a large number (417) of physicians across Finland answered the survey. The study was carried out by Kuulas Millward Brown at the request of Mediuutiset.
For additional information about the study, please contact:
Kari Tervonen
Lead Researcher
Kuulas MillwardBrown
kari.tervonen(at)kuulas.fi
Phone +358 50 437 0677
Kimmo Seppälä
Editor-in-Chief
Mediuutiset
kimmo.seppälä(at)talentum.fi
Phone +358 40 342 4347
Talentum is a publisher and information provider focused on a professional target group. About 800 people are employed by Talentum in Finland, Sweden, Norway, the Baltic States and Russia. Talentum owns 50% of the publisher of Mediuutiset, Oy Mediuutiset Ab, jointly with Medicine International Today MTI.
