Statistics
2011 Health Manpower Survey on Medical Laboratory Technologists
Key Findings
1. The medical laboratory technologists covered in the 2011 HMS were medical laboratory technologists registered with the Medical Laboratory Technologists 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 medical laboratory technologists covered was 2 850.
3. Of the 2 850 registered medical laboratory technologists covered, 1 344 had responded to the survey, giving an overall response rate of 47.2%. Of the 1 344 responding medical laboratory technologists, 1 186 (88.2%) were economically active*† (active) whereas 158 (11.8%) reported to be economically inactive*‡ (inactive) in the local medical laboratory technology profession (See Chart).
4. Of the 1 186 active medical laboratory technologists, 1 144 (96.5%) were practising in the local medical laboratory technology profession, 27 (2.3%) were seeking jobs and 15 (1.3%) were waiting to take up new jobs, believing no work available or expecting to return to original jobs in the local medical laboratory technology profession during the 30 days before the survey.
5. The survey findings presented below were based on the 1 144 responding medical laboratory technologists practising in the local medical laboratory technology profession as at 31.3.2011. As some questionnaires contained missing information, percentages presented below may not add up to 100%.
| (i) |
Two medical laboratory technologists did not indicate their sex. Of the remaining 1 142 active medical laboratory technologists enumerated, 507 (44.4%) were male and 635 (55.6%) were female, giving an overall sex ratio (males per 100 females) of 79.8. Nine medical laboratory technologists did not indicate the age and the median age of the remaining 1 135 active medical laboratory technologists enumerated was 43.0 years. |
| (ii) |
Distribution by sector of the main job§ showed that 502 (43.9%) were working in the Hospital Authority, followed by 412 (36.0%) in the private sector, 138 (12.1%) in the Government and 90 (7.9%) in the academic and subvented sectors. |
| (iii) |
79.8% spent most of their working time on medical laboratory tests, followed by 13.7% on administration / management, 3.8% on research and 1.5% on teaching. |
| (iv) |
The median number of hours of work (excluding meal breaks) per week of the 1 144 active medical laboratory technologists enumerated was 44.0 hours. 153 (13.4%) medical laboratory technologists were required to undertake on-call duty (excluding normal duty), with a median number of 12.0 hours of on-call duty (excluding normal duty) per week. |
* 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” medical laboratory technologists comprised all “employed” and “unemployed” medical laboratory technologists. “Employed” medical laboratory technologists referred to those medical laboratory technologists practising in the medical laboratory technology profession in Hong Kong during the survey period, while “unemployed” medical laboratory technologists referred to those medical laboratory technologists who (a) were not practising in the medical laboratory technology 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 medical laboratory technology profession during the 30 days before the survey.
‡ “Economically inactive” medical laboratory technologists comprised the medical laboratory technologists who were not practising in the medical laboratory technology 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 medical laboratory technologists had spent most of their working time.
6. Among the 158 inactive medical laboratory technologists (See Chart):
|
(i) |
23 medical laboratory technologists reported practising overseas and two medical laboratory technologists reported practising in the Mainland. |
| (ii) |
120 medical laboratory technologists reported not practising in the medical laboratory technology profession in Hong Kong and not seeking job in the medical laboratory technology profession during the 30 days before the survey. The reasons reported for not seeking job included: 66 (55.0%) were working in other professions, 17 (14.2%) engaged in household duties, 13 (10.8%) were retired and 13 (10.8%) wanted to take rest / having no motive to work / having no financial need, etc. |
|
Activity Status of Medical Laboratory Technologists Covered |
| Of the 2 850 medical laboratory technologists covered, 1 344 (47.2%) had responded to the survey, while the remaining 1 506(52.8%) had not responded. Among the respondents, 1 186 (88.2%) were active in the local medical laboratory technology profession and 158 (11.8%) reported to be inactive in the local medical laboratory technology profession. Among the 1 186 active medical laboratory technologists, 1 144 (96.5%) were practising in the local medical laboratory technology profession, 27 (2.3%) (a) were not practising in the medical laboratory technology 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 medical laboratory technology profession during the 30 days before the survey and the reamining 15 (1.3%) (a) were not practising in the medical laboratory technology profession in Hong Kong during the survey period; (b) had been available for work during the seven days before the survey; and (c) were believing no work available, waiting to take up new jobs or expecting to return to original jobs in the local medical laboratory technology profession during the 30 days before the survey. Of the 158 inactive medical laboratory technologists, 120 (75.9%) reported not practising in the medical laboratory technology profession in Hong Kong and not seeking jobs in the medical laboratory technology profession during the 30 days before the survey, 23 (14.6%) reported practising overseas, 2 (1.3%) reported practising in the Mainland in the medical laboratory technology profession and the remaining 13 (8.2%) (a) were not practising in the medical laboratory technology profession in Hong Kong during the survey period; (b) had not been available for work during the seven days before the survey; and (c) had sought work in the medical laboratory technology profession during the 30 days before the survey. Of the 120 inactive medical laboratory technologists, 66 (55.0%) were working in other professions, 17 (14.2%) were engaged in household duties, 13 (10.8%) were retired, 13 (10.8%) wanted to take rest/having no motive to work/ having no financial need and the remaining 11 (9.2%)* had other reasons for being inactive. Note: * Figure refers to the number of responding medical laboratory technologists who reported emigrated, undertaking study, etc Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding |
|
Notes﹕ |
* |
Figure refers to the number of responding medical laboratory technologists who (a) were not practising in the medical laboratory technology 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 medical laboratory technology profession during the 30 days before the survey. |
|
|
† |
Figure refers to the number of responding medical laboratory technologists who (a) were not practising in the medical laboratory technology profession in Hong Kong during the survey period; (b) had been available for work during the seven days before the survey; and (c) were waiting to take up new jobs, believing no work available or expecting to return to original jobs in the local medical laboratory technology profession during the 30 days before the survey. |
|
|
‡ |
Figure refers to the number of responding medical laboratory technologists who (a) were not practising in the medical laboratory technology profession in Hong Kong during the survey period; (b) had not been available for work during the seven days before the survey; and (c) had sought work in the medical laboratory technology profession during the 30 days before the survey. |
| § |
Figure refers to the number of responding medical laboratory technologists who reported emigrated, undertaking study, etc. |
|
|
Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding |
Department of Health
The Government of the Hong Kong
Special Administrative Region
30 November 2011