ANZSCO: 2523 DENTAL PRACTITIONERS

diagnose and treat dental disease, restore normal oral function using a broad range of
treatments, such as surgery and other specialist techniques, and advise on oral health.
This Unit Group contains the following occupations included on the 2012 Skilled
Occupation List (SOL):
252311 Dental Specialist
252312 Dentist
Indicative Skill Level
Most occupations in this Unit Group have a level of skill commensurate with a Bachelor degree
or higher qualification (ANZSCO Skill Level 1).
Specialised Occupation Criteria
Long lead time
Dental Practitioners meet the criteria for long lead time, as entry to this occupation requires a
substantial training commitment.
Employment as a Dentist requires the completion of an accredited university qualification
of at least four years study (full-time equivalent), such as a Bachelor of Dental Science.
Employment as a Dental Specialist requires qualification as a Dentist and a further
accredited university doctorate qualification of three years.

High use
Dental Practitioners meet the criteria for high use, showing that the skills which people have
acquired through education and training are actually being deployed for the uses intended.
Based on advice from Universities Australia, university courses in dentistry have a strong
degree of match with eventual employment as Dental Practitioners.
Of new graduates employed as Dental Practitioners, 95% had studied in a related field
(Australian Graduate Survey, 2010).
As professionals, Dental Practitioners are expected to have a level of skill commensurate
with a Bachelor degree or higher qualification. Of those employed as Dental Practitioners,
100% were found to possess this level of skill (ABS Survey of Education and Work, 2011).

High risk
Dental Practitioners also meet the criteria for high risk/high disruption. This indicates that
shortage of skills causes significant cost to the community and/or economy.
Dental Practitioners are required to register with the Dental Board of Australia in order to
gain professional recognition and practise in Australia.
Dental Practitioners are important to meet government policy priorities. These include:
improving the nations dental health; meeting the recommendations of the National Health
and Hospitals Reform Commission; the Clinical Training Funding Initiative; and the Clinical
Supervision Support Program.
SOL Summary
Employment rose very strongly at 38.1% over the five years to November 2011 and continued
above average growth is expected to 2015-16. The unemployment rate for Dental Practitioners
is very low.

The age profile for Dentists, with 45% of the workforce over the age of 45, suggests demand to
replace workers retiring over the next decade will be strong.

Domestic higher education commencements have increased steadily from 2005 to 2010.
DEEWR labour market research shows graduate outcomes remain well above average, despite
deteriorating slightly over the past few years.

The Continuous Survey of Australias Migrants shows that 100% of independent permanent
migrants under this Unit Group were working in their nominated occupation 12 months after
arrival, compared with the average of 50% for all occupations. This indicates strong capacity
within the economy to absorb independent migrants in this occupation.

The evidence indicates that the demand for Dental Specialist and Dentist is expected to exceed
supply over the medium to longer term.

Dentist is included on the 2012 SOL but is flagged for further monitoring of labour market
conditions due to signs that graduate outcomes may be falling as supply increases.

Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) January 2012
Occupation trends
ANZSCO: 2523 Dental Practitioners

Employment level 16 700 A high proportion of workers (80.1%) are employed full-time.
6 digit employment
(2006 Census)
2523-11 Dental Specialist 850
2523-12 Dentist 8180
Employment growth Over the five years to November 2011, employment in this occupation
increased by 38.1% (compared with growth of 10.4% for all occupations).
Employment over the next five years is expected to increase by 17.6%.
Unemployment rate 1.1% compared with 3.1% for all occupations.
Educational profile 100% have a Bachelor degree or higher qualification.
Vacancies The Internet Vacancy Index (IVI) fell by 30.1% over the 12 months to
November 2011. Vacancies for all occupations fell by 7.1%.
Gender 36.8% of workers in this occupation are female (compared with 45.5% for all
occupations).
Labour turnover Annually, 6.8% of Health Therapy Professionals (which includes Dental
Practitioners) leave their occupation group, creating some potential job
openings (this compares with 14.2% across all occupations).
Age profile The median age is 42 years and 44.9% of workers are aged 45 years and
over (compared with 38.5% for all occupations).
Earnings Median full-time weekly earnings (before tax) are $1500 compared with $1050
for all occupations.
Graduate outcomes Data from Graduate Careers Australia indicate that 90.6% of students
completing a Bachelor degree in the field of dentistry in 2010 (and who were
available for full-time work) were in full-time employment four months after
graduating. While this is well above the average for all Bachelor degree
graduates (76.6%), it is below the results recorded for graduates from the
previous two years.
Skill shortages National shortages of Dental Specialists and Dentists were evident from 2003
to 2009.

Labour market
2523-11 Dental Specialist
Not specifically assessed, although a small number of vacancies were surveyed as part of the Dentist
assessment.

2523-12 Dentist
Widespread shortages were evident between 2003 and 2009. Some easing in the labour market was
observed in late 2009 and in 2010 shortages were only evident in regional locations. In May 2011, shortages
were no longer evident, with employers in both metropolitan and regional areas generally attracting multiple
suitable applicants and experiencing little difficulty filling their vacancies.
Nationally, 76% of surveyed vacancies were filled and there were, on average, 2.6 suitable applicants per
vacancy. This compared with results in 2007, when 43% of vacancies surveyed were filled and there were
1.4 suitable applicants per vacancy.
Employers in metropolitan areas filled 82% of their vacancies and considered 3.6 applicants per vacancy
suitable. Employers in regional areas filled 71% of their vacancies and considered almost two applicants per
vacancy suitable.
Employers commented that a large proportion of applicants were new graduates. Whilst more than half of
the employers surveyed stated that they would have preferred an experienced Dentist, a quarter of the
vacancies were filled by new graduates.


Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) January 2012