Statistics

2011 Health Manpower Survey on Radiographers

Key Findings of Diagnostic Radiographers

1. The diagnostic radiographers (Category D) covered in the 2011 HMS were diagnostic radiographers registered with the Radiographers Board of Hong Kong under the Supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance (Chapter 359) as at the survey reference date - 31.3.2011.

2. The number of diagnostic radiographers covered was 1 473.

3. Of the 1 473 registered diagnostic radiographers covered, 707 had responded to the survey, giving an overall response rate of 48.0%. Of the 707 responding diagnostic radiographers, 670 (94.8%) were economically active ^*† (active) whereas 37 (5.2%) reported to be economically inactive ^*‡ (inactive) in the local diagnostic radiography profession (See Chart) . 

4. Of the 670 active diagnostic radiographers, 665 (99.3%) were practising in the local diagnostic radiography profession, two (0.3%) were seeking jobs and two (0.3%) were expecting to return to original jobs in diagnostic radiography profession and one (0.1%) was having temporary sickness during the 30 days before the survey.

5. The survey findings presented below were based on the 665 responding diagnostic radiographers practising in the local diagnostic radiography profession as at 31.3.2011. As some questionnaires contained missing information, percentages presented below may not add up to 100%.

(i)

Eight diagnostic radiographers did not indicate their sex. Of the remaining 657 active diagnostic radiographers enumerated, 320 (48.4%) were male and 337 (51.3%) were female, giving an overall sex ratio (males per 100 females) of 95. 11 diagnostic radiographers did not indicate the age and the median age of the remaining 654 active diagnostic radiographers enumerated was 42.0 years.

(ii)

Distribution by sector of the main job ^§ showed that 344 (51.4%) were working in the Hospital Authority, followed by 280 (42.1%) in the private sector and 37 (5.6%) in the Government, academic and subvented sectors.

(iii)

91.3% spent most of their working time on diagnostic stream, followed by 6.3% on administration / management.

(iv)

The median number of hours of work (excluding meal breaks) per week of the 665 active diagnostic radiographers enumerated was 44.0 hours. 124 (18.6%) diagnostic radiographers were required to undertake on-call duty (excluding normal duty), with a median number of 20.0 hours of on-call duty (excluding normal duty) per week.

6. Among the 37 inactive diagnostic radiographers (See Chart):

(i)

Six diagnostic radiographers reported practising overseas.

(ii)

31 diagnostic radiographers reported not practising in the diagnostic radiography profession in Hong Kong and not seeking job in the local diagnostic radiography profession during the 30 days before the survey. The reasons reported for not seeking job included: 17 (54.8%) were working in other professions, five (16.1%) were engaged in household duties and four (12.9%) were retired.

* In the survey, the criteria used in defining economically active/inactive followed those recommended by the International Labour Organization, which are also being used by the Census and Statistics Department in Hong Kong.

† “Economically active” diagnostic radiographers comprised all “employed” and “unemployed” diagnostic radiographers. “Employed” diagnostic radiographers referred to those diagnostic radiographers practising in the diagnostic radiography profession in Hong Kong during the survey period, while “unemployed” diagnostic radiographers referred to those diagnostic radiographers who (a) were not practising in the diagnostic radiography profession during the survey period; (b) had been available for work during the seven days before the survey; and (c) had sought work in the diagnostic radiography profession during the 30 days before the survey.

‡ “Economically inactive” diagnostic radiographers comprised the diagnostic radiographers who were not practising in the diagnostic radiography profession in Hong Kong during the survey period, but excluding those who had been on leave during the survey period and who were “economically active” but “unemployed”.

§ Main jobs referred to the jobs in which the diagnostic radiographers had spent most of their working time.

Activity Status of Diagnostic Radiographers Covered

Text Version

Of the 1 473 diagnostic radiographers covered, 707 (48.0%) had responded to the survey, while the remaining 766 (52.0%) had not responded. Among the respondents, 670 (94.8%)were active in the local diagnostic radiography profession whereas 37 (5.2%) reported to be inactive in the local diagnostic radiography profession.

Among the 670 active diagnostic radiographers, 665 (99.3%) were practising in the local diagnostic radiography profession, two (0.3%) (a) was not practising in the diagnostic radiography profession in Hong Kong during the survey period; (b) had been available for work during the seven days before the survey; and (c) had sought work in the diagnostic radiography profession during the 30 days before the survey, two (0.3%) (a) were not practising in the diagnostic radiography profession in Hong Kong during the survey period; (b) had been available for work during the seven days before the survey; and (c) were expected to return to original jobs in the diagnostic radiography profession during the 30 days before the survey, and the remaining one (0.1%) reported having temporary sickness.

Of the 37 inactive diagnostic radiographers, 31 (83.8%) reported not practising in the diagnostic radiography profession in Hong Kong and not seeking job in the diagnostic radiography profession during the 30 days before the survey and six (16.2%) reported practising overseas.

Of the 31 inactive diagnostic radiographers, 17 (54.8%) were working in other professions, five (16.1%) were engaged in household duties, four (12.9%) were retired and the remaining five (16.1%)* had other reasons for being inactive.

Note:

* Figure refers to the number of responding optometrists who reported undertaking studies, wanted to take rest/having no motive to work/having no financial need, etc.

Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

Notes﹕

Figure refers to the number of responding diagnostic radiographers who (a) were not practising in the diagnostic radiography profession in Hong Kong during the survey period; (b) had been available for work during the seven days before the survey; and (c) had sought work in the diagnostic radiography profession during the 30 days before the survey.

†

Figure refers to the number of responding diagnostic radiographers who (a) were not practising in the diagnostic radiography profession in Hong Kong during the survey period; (b) had been available for work during the seven days before the survey; and (c) were expected to return to original jobs in the diagnostic radiography profession during the 30 days before the survey.

‡

Figure refers to the number of responding diagnostic radiographers who reported undertaking study, wanted to take rest / no motive to work / no financial need, etc.

Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.

Key Findings of Therapeutic Radiographers

1. The therapeutic radiographers (Category T) covered in the 2011 HMS were therapeutic radiographers registered with the Radiographers Board of Hong Kong under the supplementary Medical Professions Ordinance (Chapter 359) as at the survey reference date - 31.3.2011.  

2. The number of therapeutic radiographers covered was 267.

3. Of the 267 registered therapeutic radiographers covered, 119 had responded to the survey, giving an overall response rate of 44.6%. Of the 119 responding therapeutic radiographers, 104 (87.4%) were economically active ^*† (active) whereas 15 (12.6%) reported to be economically inactive ^*‡ (inactive) in the local therapeutic radiography profession (See Chart) . 

4. Of the 104 active therapeutic radiographers, 102 (98.1%) were practising in the local therapeutic radiography profession, two (1.9%) were seeking jobs in the local therapeutic radiography profession during the 30 days before the survey. 

5. The survey findings presented below were based on the 102 responding therapeutic radiographers practising in the local therapeutic radiography profession as at 31.3.2011. As some questionnaires contained missing information, percentages presented below may not add up to 100%.

(i)

Among the 102 active therapeutic radiographers enumerated, 57 (55.9%) were male and 45 (44.1%) were female, giving an overall sex ratio (males per 100 females) of 127. Four therapeutic radiographers did not indicate the age and the median age of the remaining 98 active therapeutic radiographers enumerated was 35.0 years.

(ii)

Distribution by sector of the main job ^§ showed that 71 (69.6%) were working in the Hospital Authority, followed by 27 (26.5%) in the private sector and three (2.9%) in the academic sector.

(iii)

90.2% spent most of their working time on therapeutic stream, followed by 6.9% on administration / management and 2.9% on teaching.

(iv)

The median number of hours of work (excluding meal breaks) per week of the 102 active therapeutic radiographers enumerated was 40.0 hours. All of them were not required to undertake on-call duty (excluding normal duty).

6. Among the 15 inactive therapeutic radiographers (See Chart):

(i)

Seven therapeutic radiographers reported practising overseas.

(ii)

Eight therapeutic radiographers reported not practising in the therapeutic radiography profession in Hong Kong and not seeking job in the local therapeutic radiography profession during the 30 days before the survey.

† “Economically active” therapeutic radiographers comprised all “employed” and “unemployed” therapeutic radiographers. “Employed” therapeutic radiographers referred to those therapeutic radiographers practising in the therapeutic radiography profession in Hong Kong during the survey period, while “unemployed” therapeutic radiographers referred to those therapeutic radiographers who (a) were not practising in the therapeutic radiography profession during the survey period; (b) had been available for work during the seven days before the survey; and (c) had sought work in the therapeutic radiography profession during the 30 days before the survey.

‡ “Economically inactive” therapeutic radiographers comprised the therapeutic radiographers who were not practising in the therapeutic radiography profession in Hong Kong during the survey period, but excluding those who had been on leave during the survey period and who were “economically active” but “unemployed”.

§ Main jobs referred to the jobs in which therapeutic radiographers had spent most of their working time.

Activity Status of Therapeutic Radiographers Covered

Text Version

Of the 267 therapeutic radiographers covered, 119 (44.6%) had responded to the survey, while the remaining 148 (55.4%) had not responded. Among the respondents, 104 (87.4%) were active in the local therapeutic radiography profession whereas 15 (12.6%) reported to be inactive in the local therapeutic radiography profession.

Among the 104 therapeutic radiographers, 102 (98.1%) were practising in the local therapeutic radiography profession, and the remaining 2 (1.9%) (a) were not practising in the therapeutic radiography profession in Hong Kong during the survey period; (b) had been available for work during the seven days before the survey; and (c) had sought work in the therapeutic radiography profession during the 30 days before the survey.

Of the 15 inactive therapeutic radiographers, eight (53.3%) reported working in other professions, engaged in household duties, etc. and the remaining seven (46.4%) practising overseas in the therapeutic radiography profession.

Notes﹕

Figure refers to the number of responding therapeutic radiographers who (a) were not practising in the therapeutic radiography profession in Hong Kong during the survey period; (b) had been available for work during the seven days before the survey; and (c) had sought work in the therapeutic radiography profession during the 30 days before the survey.

†

Figure refers to the number of responding therapeutic radiographers who reported working in other professions, engaged in household duties, etc.

Department of Health
The Government of the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region
29 December 2011

11 Jan 2013