Throughout Australia and around the world, there's always a need for healthcare. In many ways, the industry is practically recession proof. As long as people roam the earth,demand exists for medical care, ranging from traditional wellness checkups to code blue emergency services. In fact, healthcare is Australia's single-largest employment sector. Over 1.5 million people work in the industry, equating to nearly 13% of the country's population, based on the most recent figures available from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

However, even though the country has grown in size in 2019, its aging population now requires more primary care doctors, home healthcare aides and nursing home assistants to buttress medical staff experiencing an influx in patient volume. This has led to more locum job opportunities, enabling doctors, nurses, nurse assistants and more to relocate to parts of the country where their services are sorely needed.

But Australia isn't the only country where home health aide workers are in high demand. The same is true in other parts of the world, such as Canada, the United States and New Zealand, among others. Here are a few other healthcare positions worldwide that are in short supply:

1. Primary physician

Cognitive dissonance may be the best term to define the current healthcare environment in Canada. That's because according to a recent report from the Canadian Institute of Health Information, the number of doctors in the country is moving at a far faster pace than the overall population, averaging 12.5% to 4.6%, respectively, between 2014 and 2018, CTV News reported.

Despite this, almost 4.8 million Canadians say they don't have a physician that they see for ongoing care, such as physicals, the common cold or the flu. The issue is particularly evident in Quebec, Saskatchewan and British Columbia, meaning Atlantic, central and the western portion of Canada.

Additionally, according to the report, primary care physicians are particularly hard to find in rural areas, with 92% working in urban areas.

Emergency room staff is an ongoing need throughout the world

2. Mental health professional

Similar to Australia, aged care workers are few in number in New Zealand, relative to demand. The same can be said for mental health professionals. From psychiatrists to psychologists and social workers, vacancies for professionals who specialize in mental health has been an issue tracing back to 2017, the New Zealand Herald reported. Staff shortages are especially acute in Canterbury. 

3. Emergency medicine personnel

ERs are the first line of defense for serious injuries, illnesses and accidents. They are also the only option for many who don’t have sufficient health insurance.. This may be due to a variety of factors, such as trying financial circumstances, severe poverty or being in between jobs for individuals whose coverage is based on employment. ERs globally must be able to adapt and respond quickly when patient volumes rise.

If you're a health professional looking to relocate to New Zealand, Australia or Canada, there's a good chance your position is in high demand. Your Doctor Jobs can help you find the locum job that's right for you in a part of the world you love or have always wanted to visit. Contact us to learn more.