Workforce composition differs between care sectors

According to Statistics Netherlands’ new statistics on care institutions, the composition of the workforce in care differs between the various care sectors. In 2006, 886 thousand people worked in care institutions, accounting for 558 thousand full-time equivalents.

More overhead workers in short-term care

In hospitals and mental health care, the overhead workforce is relatively large, twice as large even as in care for the disabled, nursing, care and home care.

The care provided by hospitals and mental health care institutions is mainly short-term care. Studies by other research institutes have shown that short-term care requires a relatively large amount of administrative support. 

Share of overhead workforce in care institutions, 2006

Large differences for other positions too

Nursing and care staff account for most full-time jobs of staff in care for the disabled and in nursing, care and home care: nearly 70 percent of the total number of full-time jobs in these sectors. The share of medical staff and other staff involved in patient treatment is relatively lower in these sectors.

The workforce in university hospitals comprises just as many medical staff, as nursing and care workers. The share of medical staff in general hospitals is significantly lower, on the other hand. One of the reasons for this is that activities at university hospitals also comprise teaching and research as well as care.

Composition of workforce in care sector, 2006

Karin Riksen and Martin Boon