18 February 2016
Workforce surveys always make for interesting reading – although the picture each paints is often complex and brings on a healthy bout of head-scratching.
The College of Optometrists’ latest offering, published last week, seeks to build up a picture of the present landscape in optics, and identify the trends to contextualise how the future might look.
The man leading the project, the College’s research director, Mike Bowen, told OT’s assistant editor, Olivia Wannan, that one area to watch is the spread of optometrists across the UK, coupled with wider questions about the ‘supply’ of professionals into the sector.
Highlighting the Midlands as an area with a high concentration of optometrists, especially around university towns that provide optometry courses, Mr Bowen notes: “People seem to want to study where they live … and work near where they studied. It’s a generational thing.”
In areas with the lowest frequency of optometrists, which often have older populations and therefore higher demands for eye health services, Mr Bowen challenges the sector to ask: “Are there areas that are under-served?” And it is those areas, coupled with an ageing population and growing eye health issues, that lead Mr Bowen to conclude that understanding the likely level of demand for optical professionals is “complicated… and we need further analysis.”
The survey reiterates a longstanding trend that levels of satisfaction in the sector are strong, with 80% of optometrists and dispensing opticians reporting to be ‘satisfied’ or ‘extremely satisfied’ with their job. It is harder to believe this curve will continue upwards based on the survey’s findings that the percentage of optometrist respondents earning more than £40,000 has fallen since 2010, from 52% to 43%. Reversing this trend must be another priority for the sector to resolve.
Image credit: Flickr/Megan E. Bluhm Faoldenhauer
Comments (4)
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Anonymous25 February 2016
I have always been proud that optometry is a diverse profession with good opportunities for both woman and men. I was left speechless at the size of the gender pay gap in the profession, much greater than that of other comparable professions. I am even more surprised by the lack of analysis and commentary on this important issue from the profession as a whole in response to the report. Following on from the excellent glass ceciling OT edition, is that now case closed on gender equality? Surely the AOP should be leading the way with an action plan for woman, urgent meetings with employers to discuss, recommend and if necessary challenge this huge workplace inequality.
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Anonymous21 February 2016
I agree with sgill. I am fortunate to be relatively well paid and have good job satisfaction currently, but I plan to exit optometry in the next ten years, because I foresee falling income and increasing overregulation as making the job untenable.
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Anonymous18 February 2016
Let's highlight some of the more pertinent points to be made from this survey. For example, that approximately 1 in 10 optometrists consider a change of profession to be foremost in their thoughts regarding future career prospects!
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Anonymous18 February 2016
what is an average salary nowadays ? £30 or £35 K ?
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