Ireland sees surge in healthcare job applications amidst COVID-19 second wave

A new report on the state of hiring in the healthcare industry, published by leading recruitment software company Occupop, has today revealed a significant spike in applications for healthcare roles, with data indicating applications have tripled in the sector since 2019.

The report has revealed almost 70,000 applications for healthcare positions were made through the platform this year alone, in comparison to just over 23,000 in 2019 while hires have also seen a marked increase. Occupop is an all-in-one recruitment solution that enables companies to attract, manage and hire the highest quality job applicants.

To date, Occupop has helped over 150 businesses manage their recruitment, including companies such as Hertz, B. Beacon Hospital, DPS, Global Shares, Blackrock Clinic and more.

The new data indicates a sharp rise in the number of candidates seeking jobs within the industry, which has previously struggled to find enough talent to fill new and existing roles. The most applied for positions include:

—  Healthcare assistants: 47.4 per cent

—  Administration: 31 per cent

—  Nursing and Midwifery: 8.5 per cent

—  Allied Health Professionals: 6.2 per cent

*To access the full report please click here

Coinciding with the onset of Ireland’s second wave, October saw the highest level of jobs engagement within the healthcare sector, with four times the number of job applications seen than the previous year. Despite unprecedented levels of increased hiring, industry bodies have highlighted continued shortcomings in staffing the sector.

The same month saw the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) call on the Government to urgently address Ireland’s crisis in medical workforce resourcing. Meanwhile, following the announcement of a €4 billion spending boost for the health service, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) additionally warned that it would be wasted without a comprehensive staffing plan, noting that recruiting more staff will also help retain existing numbers.

Occupop’s findings also identified a distinct increase in the number of applications for healthcare assistant roles, jumping from 5,000 last year to over 28,000 so far in 2020. This surge in applications for healthcare assistant positions is accompanied by a high success rate, with just under half of applications received progressing to the review stage.

According to the report, this year has seen over triple the number of healthcare assistants hired in comparison to 2019. Coinciding with the first peak of the pandemic, Occupop’s data reveals that the month of April saw a record number of hires in healthcare roles, with the month’s figures representing a year-on-year increase eight times over.

The report notes that careers pages have offered the healthcare sector the best CV-to-hire ratio this year, affording this cost-effective hiring avenue further credibility as an increasingly popular method of sourcing candidates.

Social and professional networks Facebook and Linkedin likewise have experienced significant increases in applicants using their platforms, signifying the increased relevance of social recruiting amidst the pandemic this year.

Commenting on the findings of the latest Occupop report, Occupop co-founder David Banaghan said:

“The COVID-19 crisis has created a sizable surge in demand for healthcare roles, which, as our report shows, has been fulfilled to a certain extent by significant increases in applications this year. Our report indicates April, May and June this year were the top three months for hires across healthcare which remains a key sector in the battle against the pandemic.

While the sector remains under pressure due to the second wave, there is an unprecedented level of engagement which indicates the industry is trying its best to recruit the numbers needed to keep the increasing COVID-19 cases under control. ”