Health care sector
The study report presents the results of the industrial research with a focus on the labour needs of health professionals and their equivalents, and additionally of some health specialists with a sizeable workforce. The aim was to find out how workforce and labour needs in these professions will change over the next ten years (2024–2033), and to assess whether the learning-based training provision is in line with the labour needs in the sector.
The total number of health professionals in 2023 was 20,380. The size of the workforce is projected to rise by a tenth in ten years – to 22,600. In forecasting the health labour needs, the OSKA study has taken into account the number of professional specialists needed to replace retirees, to cover manpower turnover, and to fill newly created positions.
An additional 7,700 or so professional specialists will be needed in the health sector over the next ten years to meet the labour needs. Around 6,400 people are expected to join from the offered education.
To alleviate labour shortages, the sector needs to make systematic changes to the way it organises its work.
OSKA health care study in Estonian
