Genetics workforce as of 31/03/2013
Background
In contrast to 2011 and 2012 (approximately a 90% response in both cases)
the information below relates to all of the regional genetics laboratories in
addition to a small number of specialist laboratories with affiliations to the
ACGS: thanks to all who sent data. This does mean that comparisons with
previous years need to be interpreted cautiously as the data sets differ
slightly, but hopefully in subsequent years we will continue to capture figures
across the whole profession.
Overall workforce
The total workforce for the laboratories providing a return was 1607
individuals in post at the 31st March 2013, with 34 vacancies at that date. This
corresponded to approximately 1415 wte (not all labs provided wte data). The
corresponding figures for 2011-2012 were 1205 individuals in post, 1155 wte.
The average % wte per staff member has therefore decreased compared to
2012, but given the differences in the data set the significance of this is
uncertain.
For 2012-2013 the gender split was 74% female, 26% male (in terms of
numbers of individuals: the split was 72% female, 28% male for wte) These
figures are similar to those for previous years. The graphs below show the
overall workforce profiles for 2012-2013 for agenda for change band and for
age. Please note that for all graphs the figures are for numbers of individuals
in post at 31/03/2013, not wte.
Age profiles by AfC band
The graphs below show the age profiles by AfC band at 31/03/2013. In total
214 individuals still in post are in the 50-59 bracket and 44 in the 60+ bracket,
with an obvious bias to older individuals in the higher bands. Not all
laboratories provided age data.
Band 1: no posts
Band 2: n=65, F 77%, M 23%
Band 3: n=141, F 81%, M 19%
Band 4: n=113, F 79%, M 21%
Band 5: n=302, F 74%, M 26%
Band 6: n=275, F 74%, M 26%
Band 7: n=444, F 78%, M 22%
Band 8a: n=136, F 66%, M 34%
Band 8b: n=69, F 65%, M 35%
Band 8c: n=34, F 61%, M 39%
Band 8d: n=28, F 48%, M 52%
Band 9: n=16, F 44%, M 56%
Scientist Trainees
The table below shows the total numbers of individuals entering Clinical
Scientist or Healthcare Scientist (MSC) training since 2001. The equivalent
figures for Genetic Technologists / Healthcare Science Practitioners have not
been presented as there appeared to be some inconsistency in the way that
different laboratories recorded this information. In addition to the figures
below, 14 Clinical Bioinformatics STP trainees with an emphasis on genomics
started in 2013.
Year
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Cyto
25
31
41
38
29
32
21
17
12
0
0
0
0
Mol Gen
32
20
24
31
25
18
20
14
13
0
0
0
0
MSC STP
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
16
8
5
11
18
Trainees
57
51
65
69
54
50
41
31
45
8
5
11
18