Medical professionals ageing

The share of over-55s among medical professionals is higher than among other professionals employed in the care sector. Since the beginning of the 21st century, ageing in the care sector is above the average level in other sectors.

More over-55s among medical professionals

In the care sector, 16.5 percent of jobs are occupied by 55 to 65-year-olds. One in five people employed in the care sector are medical professionals. In this category, 20 percent are aged between 55 and 65 versus 16 percent among other persons employed in the care sector. With 27 percent, the share of over-55s is particularly high among self-employed medical professionals.

Percentage of over-55s low among midwives

Only 9.7 percent of midwives are in the age category 55-65. The rate is significantly higher among other medical professionals. There are many over-55s among dentists (29.3 percent), health care psychologists (29.7 percent) and in particular among psychotherapists (48.7 percent). The number of over-55s is high among psychotherapists, because fewer health care psychologists and psychiatrists decide to attend the short course to register as a psychotherapist.

Age distribution medical professionals employed in care by occupational category, 2011

21.2 percent of GPs older than 55

With 21.2 percent, GP practices have the highest rate of over-55s among medical professionals and other people employed in the care sector. The share of over-55s is 19 percent in the sectors care for the elderly and mental health care. Care for the elderly is the largest sector within care, comprising nearly one third of all 55 to 65-year-old care workers.

Share 55 to 65-year-olds among care workers per sector in care, 2011

Increase in care sector above average

The comparison with other sectors can only be made for employed persons working 12 hours a week or more and if the care sector is more narrowly defined. The comparison shows that the share of the employed labour force in care aged between 55 and 65 has more than doubled from 6.6 to 15.6 percent between 2001 and 2011. Within the entire employed labour force, the share of 55 to 65-year-olds has risen less rapidly over the same period: from 7.8 to 14.9 percent.

Share 55 to 65-year-olds in the employed labour force

Vincent van Polanen Petel and Alex Hellenthal