Optometric workforce oversupply from 2016
Optometry Australia (formerly known as the Optometrists Association Australia) has commissioned a report “Optometric supply and demand in Australia: 2011-2036”, which is forecasting a significant oversupply of optometrists by the year 2036, but starting from 2016.
The report takes into account demand for services as well as graduate numbers. It is expected that the optometric workforce will more than double over the next 20 years.
The take-home message? If you are considering becoming an optometrist, be prepared for a competitive jobs market!
Update: In December 2014, Optometry Australia reported that all the graduates from the University of Melbourne’s Doctor of Optometry course had secured jobs, and that all the Flinders University optometry graduates would also be starting work in 2015.
More articles on My Health Career:
- The coming surplus of optometrists in Australia – what can you do to stay competitive in the jobs market?
- The good and bad points of a career in optometry
- Become an optometrist – a pathway infographic
2 replies to “Optometric workforce oversupply from 2016”
Is there still a threat of oversupply? If I graduate in 2023, will I struggle to find a job (esp. in Sydney region)?
Hi James,
This is an area that we haven’t researched in a couple of years. We published this article in 2015 as it gave suggestions on what to do in order to be competitive in the workforce as an optometrist: https://www.myhealthcareer.com.au/optometry/optometric-oversupply
Warm regards,
Amanda