workforce information medical laboratory workers - april 2016€¦ · the annual turnover rate is...

Workforce Information

Medical Laboratory Workers - April 2016

Purpose

This paper contains a summary of available background information on the New Zealand

District Health Boards (DHBs) Medical Laboratory Workers (MLWs) workforce, to help inform

the workforce assessment discussion. The MLWs workforce includes two distinct professions:

Medical Laboratory Scientists (Scientists) and Medical Laboratory Technicians

(Technicians).

The summary includes DHB workforce information sourced from the Health Workforce

Information Programme (HWIP) up to 31 December 2015, as well as information from the

Medical Sciences Council of New Zealand and Immigration New Zealand statistics. The

DHB sourced information is for all permanent and fixed term employees and excludes

casuals, locums and any long term leave, including parental leave. Minor discrepancies in

totals are due to rounding off. A list of job titles used to source the HWIP data is included at

the end of this report.

Workforce Statistics Summary

Over the long term, the overall DHB medical laboratory workforce distribution has

diminished due to laboratory services increasingly being contracted out to private

providers. There are currently only 11 DHBs who employ medical laboratory workers:

Northland, Waitemata, Auckland, Counties Manukau, Waikato, Lakes, Hawkes Bay,

Taranaki, West Coast, Canterbury, and Southern. Lakes DHB has only retained a

mortuary service which employs casual staff, so it has no FTE for the purpose of this

report.

HWIP trend analysis from 2013 to 2015 indicates that the overall number of DHB

employed MLWs has experienced 0% change and is currently 1203. Given that

during this period the number of DHBs employing MLWs reduced from 13 to 11; the

unchanged headcount indicates that the number of MLWs employed by the

remaining 11 DHBs increased. This growth is largely influenced by changes in the

Northern Region, particularly the transition to Anatomical Pathology Services being

managed by the Auckland DHB.

The DHB MLW comprises 58% scientists and 42% technicians. During the period 2013

to 2015, the number of scientists decreased by 1% to 692, while the number of

technicians increased by 2% to 511.

The Northern Region has a headcount of 686, which is 57% of the overall DHB

headcount. Since 2007 the number of scientists in the Northern Region increased by

28% to 417 and the number of technicians increased by 67% to 269.

With 587.9 FTE the Northern Region currently has the highest FTE of scientists and

technicians, i.e. 58% of the overall DHB medical laboratory workforce FTE.

The overall mean FTE is 0.84 indicating a high number of part time workers. The

mean FTE for scientists has consistently been higher than technicians, and is

currently 0.86 and 0.82 respectively.

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Report produced by Strategic Workforce Services - DHBSS - April 2016

80% of the current workforce is female, with both the proportion of female scientists

and technicians having decreased slightly to 76% and 86% respectively since 2013.

The overall mean age is high at 46.9 years. There has been a steady increase in the

mean age for both scientists and technicians, which are currently 46.5 and 47.4

years respectively.

41% of female and 36% of male scientists are more than 50 years old; while 45% of

female and 29% of male technicians are more than 50 years old. Currently, for both

scientists and technicians 5% of females and 7% of males are more than 65 years

old and working beyond retirement age.

The difference between workforce ethnicity and population ethnicity proportions

indicates under-representation of Māori and Pacific groups and disproportionately

high representation of Asians, especially for technicians in the Northern Region. The

majority of MLWs are classified as ‘Other’ ethnicity, however an exception to this

national trend is the Northern Region which has a higher proportion of Asian

technicians than the proportion of technicians classified as ‘Other’.

The overall mean Length of Service (LoS) increased to 10.9 years, and has

consistently been higher for scientists than for technicians.

The annual turnover rate is 8.3%. The annual turnover rate has generally been

higher for technicians than for scientists, except between 2010 and 2012. While the

annual turnover rate for scientists has fluctuated between 6-12.5% between 2008

and 2015, the actual number of scientists leaving is small.

In March 2014 the DHB MLW workforce was 36.13% of the overall New Zealand MLW

workforce.

Since 2007 the number of New Zealand graduates registering as MLWs has been

increasing, while the number of overseas qualified new registrations has been

decreasing. The number of work visas issued to foreign MLWs has also been

decreasing in recent years. This indicates a decreasing dependence on overseas

qualified MLWs.

The United Kingdom continues to be the major source country for scientists, while

the Philippines remains the major source country for technicians.

The key statistics suggest an aging workforce, which is changing in distribution and

composition, concentrated in the Northern region, with a higher proportion of

scientists, dominant female representation, a volatile turnover, long lengths of

service, decreasing dependence on overseas qualified workers, under-

representation of Māori and Pacific and disproportionately high representation of

Asian.

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4


Key Findings

a) DHB Employment Information as at 31 December 2015

1. National Headcount

Group 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Scientists 630 633 677 701 722 733 696 735 692

Technicians 432 455 465 523 529 526 503 546 511

Total 1062 1088 1142 1224 1251 1259 1199 1281 1203

2. Analysis of Increase in Headcount

a) Scientist Headcount by Region

Region 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Northern 325 337 359 397 406 409 404 427 417

Southern 113 118 122 119 124 131 129 134 137

Midland 113 93 98 90 88 87 92 99 107

Central 79 85 98 95 104 106 71 75 31

Total 630 633 677 701 722 733 696 735 692

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b) Scientist Headcount in the Northern Region

DHB 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Auckland 220 226 234 243 251 239 242 248 225

Counties

Manukau 50 51 53 50 53 49 47 50 67

Northland 27 32 38 41 42 40 36 47 50

Waitemata 28 28 34 63 60 81 79 82 75

Total 325 337 359 397 406 409 404 427 417

c) Technician Headcount by Region

Region 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Northern 161 166 171 242 248 234 229 264 269

Southern 123 121 128 122 116 126 119 117 115

Midland 91 96 93 84 87 88 82 87 92

Central 57 72 73 75 78 78 73 78 35

Total 432 455 465 523 529 526 503 546 511

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d) Technician Headcount in the Northern Region

DHB 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Auckland 98 85 92 95 90 86 99 109 103

Counties

Manukau 42 49 46 50 57 66 65 68 76

Northland 10 16 14 23 24 23 3 27 26

Waitemata 11 16 19 74 77 59 62 60 64

Total 161 166 171 242 248 234 229 264 269

3. Full Time Equivalents (FTE)

a) National FTE

Group 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Scientists 535.4 537.4 564.2 593.6 603.5 622.0 598.3 634.3 596.4

Technicians 330.4 350.3 353.1 408.4 394.0 414.4 402.3 443.4 418.7

Total 865.8 887.7 917.4 1002.0 997.5 1036.4 1000.6 1077.7 1015.2

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b) FTE by Region

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c) FTE by DHB

DHB Scientist FTE Technician FTE Total %

Auckland 198.1 89 287.1 28.30%

Canterbury 108.1 81.1 189.2 18.60%

Waikato 78.3 58.2 136.5 13.40%

Counties Manukau 63.3 66.4 129.7 12.80%

Waitemata 58.7 51.7 110.4 10.80%

Northland 40 20.7 60.7 6.10%

Hawke's Bay 27.3 29.8 57.1 5.60%

Taranaki 14.8 13.5 28.2 2.80%

West Coast 7.9 5.1 13 1.30%

Southern 0 3.3 3.3 0.30%

Total 596.4 418.7 1015.1 100.00%

DHB Scientist FTE Technician FTE Total %

Northern Region 360.1 227.8 587.9 58.0%

Southern Region 116.0 89.5 205.5 20.2%

Mid-Central

Region 93.1 71.7 164.7 16.2%

Central Region 27.3 29.8 57.1 5.6%

Total 596.4 418.7 1015.1 100.0%

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4. Mean FTE

5. Age

a) Mean Age

Group 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Scientists 0.85 0.85 0.83 0.85 0.84 0.85 0.86 0.86 0.86

Technicians 0.76 0.77 0.76 0.78 0.74 0.79 0.80 0.81 0.82

Overall 0.82 0.82 0.80 0.82 0.80 0.82 0.83 0.84 0.84

Group 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Scientists 43.9 44.0 44.2 45.1 45.9 46.7 46.7 46.7 46.5

Technicians 43.9 44.3 44.9 45.8 46.5 46.1 46.1 46.8 47.4

Overall 43.9 44.1 44.5 45.4 46.1 46.5 46.4 46.8 46.9

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b) Mean Age by Region

Region 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Northern 43.2 43.8 44.1 45.4 46.1 46.7 46.5 47.1 46.8

Southern 45.0 45.8 46.0 46.6 47.3 46.7 47.2 47.3 47.4

Midland 44.2 44.1 44.7 45.1 46.7 47.2 47.5 47.2 47.5

Central 43.8 42.5 43.0 43.8 43.8 44.8 43.4 43.8 44.6

c) Distribution of Age by Sex - 2013 & 2015

I. Scientists

2013 2015

Sex

Due to retire within

15 years

(50+ years)

Working beyond

retirement age

(65+ years)


15 years

(50+ years)

Working beyond

retirement age

(65+ years)

Female 39% 5% 41% 5%

Male 35% 6% 36% 7%

II. Technicians

2013 2015

Sex


15 years

(50+ years)

Working beyond

retirement age

(65+ years)


15 years

(50+ years)

Working beyond

retirement age

(65+ years)

Female 42% 3% 45% 5%

Male 24% 6% 29% 7%

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6. Sex

a) Overall

b) Scientists

c) Technicians

7. Ethnicity

a) National

Sex 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Female 79.85% 78.95% 79.77% 80.56% 80.34% 80.46% 81.32% 80.33% 80.05%

Male 20.15% 21.05% 20.23% 19.44% 19.66% 19.54% 18.68% 19.67% 19.95%

Sex 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Female 76.19% 74.72% 76.07% 76.46% 76.32% 76.40% 77.59% 75.92% 75.87%

Male 23.81% 25.28% 23.93% 23.54% 23.68% 23.60% 22.41% 24.08% 24.13%

Sex 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Female 85.19% 84.84% 85.16% 86.04% 85.82% 86.12% 86.48% 86.26% 85.71%

Male 14.81% 15.16% 14.84% 13.96% 14.18% 13.88% 13.52% 13.74% 14.29%

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b) Ethnicity by Region

I. Scientists

II. Technicians

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8. Length of Service (LoS)

a) National Mean LoS

b) Mean LoS by Region

I. Scientists

Group 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Scientist 10.1 10.0 10.0 10.5 11.1 11.8 11.7 12.0 11.5

Technician 7.3 7.2 7.5 8.2 8.6 9.0 9.1 9.5 10.1

Total 8.9 8.8 9.0 9.5 10.0 10.6 10.6 10.9 10.9

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Region 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Northern 9.6 9.6 9.7 10.0 10.6 11.1 11.0 11.5 10.7

Southern 11.8 12.0 12.2 13.2 13.6 13.7 14.0 13.7 14.1

Midland 10.0 9.3 10.0 10.1 11.0 11.6 11.5 12.0 12.2

Central 9.6 9.3 8.6 9.9 10.0 11.9 12.0 11.5 9.2

II. Technicians

Region 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Northern 5.9 6.1 6.6 7.5 7.8 8.2 8.0 8.2 8.6

Southern 9.3 9.8 9.9 10.9 11.6 11.7 12.2 12.8 13.2

Midland 8.6 8.2 7.8 9.1 9.6 9.6 10.5 10.8 11.2

Central 4.6 3.8 5.1 5.0 5.3 5.9 5.9 7.1 9.0

9. Turnover

a) National Annual Turnover Rate

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Group 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Scientists 12.13% 7.53% 7.90% 6.81% 7.84% 5.45% 6.34% 6.90%

Technicians 13.50% 9.89% 7.00% 5.85% 7.44% 9.35% 8.79% 10.21%

Overall 12.69% 8.49% 7.52% 6.40% 7.67% 7.09% 7.36% 8.31%

b) Annual Turnover Rate by Region

I. Scientists

Region 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Northern 8% 8% 6% 7% 9% 6% 7% 7%

Southern 9% 7% 4% 7% 2% 4% 5% 7%

Midland 30% 6% 20% 7% 4% 4% 1% 5%

Central 10% 7% 11% 7% 13% 8% 10% 11%

II. Technicians

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Region 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015

Northern 10% 12% 5% 5% 8% 7% 10% 12%

Southern 12% 6% 6% 7% 2% 7% 8% 5%

Midland 13% 10% 10% 1% 9% 14% 3% 7%

Central 25% 12% 10% 11% 13% 15% 11% 15%

10. Vacancies as % of FTE by DHBs as at 31 January 2016

Hawke’s

Bay Auckland Taranaki Waikato Northland

Counties

Manukau

Total

7 10.6 1 2.5 1 1.6 23.7

10.0% 4.0% 2.9% 1.7% 1.5% 1.4% 2.7%

Please note:

Canterbury, Lakes, Southern, Waitemata and West Coast DHBs had nil returns.

Capital & Coast and Hutt Valley DHBs contracted out their MLW services to a private

provider.

This information was submitted by DHBs to the Strategic Workforce Services team

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b) The Medical Sciences Council of New Zealand

1. Size of the New Zealand Medical Laboratory Workforce

The number of scientists has been consistently increasing.

The number of technicians has been significantly increasing since 2004/5, with

almost 70% growth over the past ten years.

Group 2004/5 2005/6 2006/7 2007/8 2008/9 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15

Scientists 1581 1603 1538 1615 1621 1661 1685 1718 1706 1763 1761

Technicians 928 1264 1232 1397 1408 1520 1498 1549 1526 1577 1558

Total 2509 2867 2770 3012 3029 3181 3183 3267 3232 3340 3319

2. DHBs Medical Laboratory Workforce as a proportion of the New

Zealand Medical Laboratory Workforce

a) Overall DHB MLW Workforce

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2007/8 2008/9 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15

DHBs 35.72% 35.09% 34.89% 36.85% 38.02% 39.02% 36.26% 36.13%

Other 64.28% 64.91% 65.11% 63.15% 61.98% 60.98% 63.74% 63.87%

b) Scientists

2007/8 2008/9 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15

DHBs 39.32% 38.93% 39.01% 40.89% 41.39% 42.38% 38.85% 39.41%

Other 60.68% 61.07% 60.99% 59.11% 58.61% 57.62% 61.15% 60.59%

c) Technicians

2007/8 2008/9 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15

DHBs 31.57% 30.68% 30.39% 32.31% 34.28% 35.26% 33.35% 32.41%

Other 68.43% 69.32% 69.61% 67.69% 65.72% 64.74% 66.65% 67.59%

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3. Number of New Registrations

a) Scientists

2006/7 2007/8 2008/9 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15

NZ Grads 94 71 70 74 60 68 84 71 90

Overseas 80 54 73 57 38 51 24 26 24

b) Technicians

2006/7 2007/8 2008/9 2009/10 2010/11 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15

NZ Grads 136 71 70 74 88 78 121 89 101

Overseas 78 54 73 57 111 113 120 25 45

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4. Medical Laboratory Professional Registrations by Country

a) Scientists

Country 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15

New Zealand 68 84 71 90

United Kingdom 15 7 9 11

Other 6 4 1 4

Australia 4 2 4 4

South Africa 6 2 4 3

USA 1 1 1 2

India 6 3 3 0

Philippines 9 1 1 0

Ireland 4 4 2 0

b) Technicians

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Country 2011/12 2012/13 2013/14 2014/15

New Zealand 78 121 89 101

Philippines 9 69 13 24

India 6 17 2 5

United Kingdom 15 4 3 5

Other 7 5 2 5

Fiji 11 8 1 2

South Africa 6 3 2 2

Australia 4 2 2 1

USA 1 2 0 1

c) Immigration New Zealand Statistics

1. Work Visas for Qualified as Medical Laboratory Professionals

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Job Titles used to source data from HWIP:

Medical Laboratory Technicians Medical Laboratory Scientists Medical Laboratory Scientists

13-00-006 - MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN 13-00-002 - LABORARATORY SCIENTIST laboratory technologist

13-04-001 - PHLEBOTOMIST - LABORATORY 13-00-003 - CHARGE SCIENTIST Laboratory Technologists

Anatomical Mortuary Technician 13-00-009 - MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTIST MED LAB TECHNOLOGIST

CHARGE MORTUARY 13-00-011 - MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTIST Medical Laboratory Technologis

CHARGE MORTUARY TECHNICIAN Charge Laboratory Scientist Medical Laboratory Technologis – Laboratories

Charge Technician CHARGE MED LABORATORY SCIENTIST MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNOLOGIST

CHARGE TECHNICIAN - MICROBIOLOGY Charge Medical Laboratory Scientist Senior Lab Technologist

Forensic Pathology Technician CHARGE SCIENTIST STAFF LAB TECHNOLOGIST

LAB PHLEBOTOMIST Charge Scientist - Hawera STAFF LABORATORY TECHNOLOGIST – HISTOPAT

LAB TECHNICIAN CHARGE SCIENTIST - HISTOLOGY STAFF MEDICAL LAB TECHNOLOGIST

LABORATORY PHLEBOTOMIST Charge Scientist - Microbiology STAFF TECHNOLGIST

LABORATORY TECH / PHLEBOTOMIST Charge Scientist Biochemistry Staff Technologi

LABORATORY TECH/PHLEBOTOMIST Charge Scientist Blood Bank STAFF TECHNOLOGIST

Laboratory Techn Charge Scientist Microbiology STAFF TECHNOLOGIST - CORE LABORATORY

LABORATORY TECHNICIAN Charge Scientist Specimen Services STAFF TECHNOLOGIST - MICROBIOLOGY

LABORATORY TECHNICIAN - BIOCHEMISTRY Charge Technologist/Scientist Staff Technologist,Automa

LABORATORY TECHNICIAN - CASUAL Forensic Pathology Scientist Staff Technologist,Bioche

LABORATORY TECHNICIAN - HISTOLOGY Forensic Pathology Scientist - Laboratories Staff Technologist,Immunh

LABORATORY TECHNICIAN - MICROBIOLOGY INTERN LAB SCIENTIST Staff Technologist,Microb

LABORATORY TECHNICIAN / PHLEBOTOMIST INTERN MEDICAL LAB SCIENTIST Technical Specialist

Laboratory Technician/Phlebotomist Intern-Med Lab Scientist TECHNICAL SPECIALIST - BIOCHEMISTRY

Laboratory Technician/Receptionist LAB SCIENCE SL BLOOD BANK TECHNICAL SPECIALIST - IMMUNOLOGY

LABORATORY TECHNICIAN/TECHNICIAN LAB SCIENTIST Technical Specialist - Laboratories

Laboratory Technicians LAB SCIENTIST INTERN TECHNICAL SPECIALIST - MICROBIOLOGY

MED LAB TECHNICIAN LAB SCIENTIST SL BIOCHEMISTRY TECHNICAL SPECIALIST - SEROLOGY

23


Medical Lab Technician LAB SCIENTIST SL HISTOLOGY Technical Specialist Allergy

MEDICAL LAB TECHNICIAN - BIOCHEMISTRY LAB SCIENTIST SL MICROBIOLOGY Technical Specialist Allergy - Laboratories

MEDICAL LAB TECHNICIAN - MICROBIOLOGY LAB SCIENTIST SL SEROLOGY TECHNICAL SPECIALIST QUALITY CONTROL

MEDICAL LABORATORY ASSISTANT Laboratory Charge Scientist technical specialist, histology

Medical Laboratory Technician LABORATORY CHARGE SCIENTIST - BIOCHEMIST Section Leader

Medical Laboratory Technician - Laboratories LABORATORY SCIENTIST - BIOCHEMISTRY Technical Head

Medical Laboratory Technician/Phlebotomist LABORATORY SCIENTIST - HISTOLOGY CHARGE TECH - LAB

MedLabTechnician LABORATORY SCIENTIST - MICROBIOLOGY MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENCE TECHNICALHEAD

MORTUARY ASSISTANT MED LAB SCIENTIST Scientific Officers

Mortuary Technic MED LAB SCIENTIST TEAM LEADER Intern Medical Laboratory Scientist

Mortuary Technician MEDICAL LAB SCIENTIST Laboratory Scientist

Mortuary Technician/Elbalmer MEDICAL LAB SCIENTIST - BIOCHEMISTRY Med Laboratory Technologist

Orderly/Mortuary Technician MEDICAL LAB SCIENTIST - IMMUNOLOGY PHLEBOTOMY SUPERVISOR

PHELBOTOMIST MEDICAL LAB SCIENTIST-BIOCHEMISTRY

PHLEBOTOMIST MEDICAL LAB SCIENTIST-MICROBIOLOGY

PHLEBOTOMIST - CASUAL Medical Laboratory Scientist

phlebotomist (without qpt) Medical Laboratory Scientist - Laboratories

PHLEBOTOMIST* MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTIST - QUALITY

Phlebotomist/Medical Laboratory Technician MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTIST INTERN

RECEPTIONIST/ PHLEBOTOMIST MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTIST/MEDICAL LAB SCIENTIST

SENIOR LAB TECHNICIAN MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTIST/PHLEBOTOMIST

Senior Med Lab Technician SENIOR LABORATORY SCIENTIST

Senior Med Lab Technician - Laboratories Senior Med Lab Scientist

SENIOR MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN Senior Med Lab Scientist - Laboratories

SENIOR MEDICAL TECHNICIAN SENIOR MEDICAL LABORATORY SCIENTIST

SENIOR PHLEBOTOMIST CHARGE LABORATORY TECHNOLOGIST

STAFF MED LAB TECH CHARGE MED LAB TECHNOLOGIST

24


Supervising Lab Technician Charge Technologist

Supervising Medical Laboratory Technician Charge Technologist Micro

TRAINEE MEDICAL LABORATORY TECHNICIAN LAB TECHNOLOGIST

Medical Laboratory Technician (Mortuary) LAB. TECHNOLOGIST - ANATOMIC PATHOLOGY

Supervising Medical Laboratory Technician (Mortuary) Laboratory Charge Technologist

Assistant Medical Laboratory Technician LABORATORY CHARGE TECHNOLOGIST - WAIROA

Charge Phlebotomist Laboratory Grade Technologist

CHARGE TECHNOLOG

workforce information medical laboratory workers - april 2016€¦ · the annual turnover rate is...

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