Statistics

2017 Health Manpower Survey on Diagnostic Radiographers

Key Findings of Diagnostic Radiographers

1. The diagnostic radiographers (Category D) covered in the 2017 Health Manpower Survey (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 - 31.3.2017.

2. The number of diagnostic radiographers covered was 1 817.

3. Of the 1 817 diagnostic radiographers covered, 611 responded to the survey, giving an overall response rate of 33.6%. Among the respondents, 556 (91.0%) were economically active*† (active) and 55 (9.0%) were economically inactive*‡ (inactive) in the local diagnostic radiography profession.

4. Of the 556 active diagnostic radiographers enumerated, 552 (99.3%) were practising in the local diagnostic radiography profession and four (0.7%) were seeking job during the 30 days before the survey.

5. The survey findings presented below were based on the 552 responding diagnostic radiographers who were practising in the local diagnostic radiography profession as at 31.3.2017. The percentages presented below may not add up to 100% due to missing responses or rounding.

(i)	One diagnostic radiographer did not indicate the gender. Among the remaining 551 active diagnostic radiographers enumerated, 277 (50.3%) were male and 274 (49.7%) were female, giving an overall sex ratio (males per 100 females) of 101.1. Apart from six diagnostic radiographers who did not indicate their age, the median age of the remaining 546 active diagnostic radiographers enumerated was 45.0 years.
(ii)	Distribution by sector of the main job§ showed that those working in the Hospital Authority and in the private sector were both 262 (47.5%), followed by 28 (5.1%) in the Government, academic and subvented sectors.
(iii)	Of the 552 active diagnostic radiographers enumerated, 91.7% spent most of their working time on diagnostic stream, followed by 6.2% on administration / management and 1.1% on teaching.
(iv)	The median number of hours of work (excluding meal breaks) per week of the 552 active diagnostic radiographers enumerated was 41.5 hours. Among them, 131 (23.7%) 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.

* 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.

6. Among the 55 inactive diagnostic radiographers:

(i)

35 (63.6%) 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 jobs included: 21 (60.0%) were working in other professions, seven (20.0%) were retired, three (8.6%) were engaged in household duties and four (11.4%) reported undertaking study, wanted to take rest / had no motive to work/ had no financial need, etc..

(ii)

14 (25.5%) diagnostic radiographers reported practising overseas and six (10.9%) diagnostic radiographers reported practising in the Mainland.

Activity Status of Diagnostic Radiographers Covered

Text Version

Key Findings of Therapeutic Radiographers

1. The therapeutic radiographers (Category T) covered in the 2017 Health Manpower Survey (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 - 31.3.2017.

2. The number of therapeutic radiographers covered was 363.

3. Of the 363 therapeutic radiographers covered, 113 responded to the survey, giving an overall response rate of 31.1%. Among the respondents, 100 (88.5%) were economically active*† (active) and 13 (11.5%) reported that they were economically inactive*‡ (inactive) in the local therapeutic radiography profession.

4. Of the 100 active therapeutic radiographers enumerated, 96 (96.0%) were practising in the local therapeutic radiography profession, two (2.0%) were seeking job in the local therapeutic radiography profession and two (2.0%) believed that work was not available or was expecting to return to original job during the 30 days before the survey.

5. The survey findings presented below were based on the 96 responding therapeutic radiographers who were practising in the local therapeutic radiography profession as at 31.3.2017. The percentages presented below may not add up to 100% due to missing responses or rounding.

(i)	Among the 96 active therapeutic radiographers enumerated, 44 (45.8%) were male and 52 (54.2%) were female, giving an overall sex ratio (males per 100 females) of 84.6. Apart from two therapeutic radiographers who did not indicate age, the median age of the remaining 94 active therapeutic radiographers enumerated was 32.5 years.
(ii)	Distribution by sector of the main job§ showed that 53 (55.2%) were working in the Hospital Authority, followed by 36 (37.5%) in the private sector and six (6.3%) in the academic sector.
(iii)	Of the 96 active therapeutic radiographers enumerated, 86.5% spent most of their working time on therapeutic stream, followed by 7.3% on administration / management, 5.2% on teaching and 1.0% on research.
(iv)	The median number of hours of work (excluding meal breaks) per week of the 96 active therapeutic radiographers enumerated was 39.0 hours. Among them, one (1.0%) therapeutic radiographer was required to undertake on-call duty (excluding normal duty).

† "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 the therapeutic radiographers had spent most of their working time.

6. Among the 13 inactive therapeutic radiographers:

(i)	Seven (53.8%) therapeutic radiographers reported not practising in the therapeutic radiography profession in Hong Kong and not seeking jobs in the local therapeutic radiography profession during the 30 days before the survey.
(ii)	Six (46.2%) therapeutic radiographers reported practising overseas / in the Mainland.

Activity Status of Therapeutic Radiographers Covered

Text Version