Over the last number of years, there has been a significant shift in Ireland in the attitude towards flexibility towards working and fixed-term employment. Traditionally, being a full-time, pay rolled employee was the thing to do and place to be. However the tides have turned and now more and more people are require flexible, un-restrictive way of working, which is why contract or temp positions are so appealing. So, we ask ourselves at Med Doc, what exactly are the driving forces behind the rise of the contract and temp economy, and what effect is it having on businesses?

What’s driving the rise of contract and temp employees in the primary care?

The general consensus once was that when you started working life, you stayed in the same 9-5 (or 9-6 as it tends to be), Monday-Friday job for as long as possible, climbing up the food chain all within the same company, or or so we liked to believe anyway. Over time, factors such as technological advancements and an increased desire among employees to work a more flexible schedule and gain experience across a broad range of areas have all contributed to the shift towards the increased uptake of temporary positions.

With the Irish economy booming again, unemployment rates remaining low, and Brexit shifting jobs to our shores, it has become somewhat of an employees driven market place. People are now searching for the right type of employment to suit their lifestyle or current situation, for example, single parents, expats who have just moved home or those simply considering a career change. Companies are therefore reacting to this switch in demand and so they have begun to offer more flexible positions and shorter term contracts, which has caused them to look outside the box and create more and more temporary opportunities within their business. One need only look at the rise of Abodoo and the contract doctor market in both out of hours and newly qualified Irish GPs opting to locum than take on the measly GMS contract offered by our savvy health system This ultimately allows employers to work with a larger talent pool and more diverse skill sets, which they may not have had access to beforehand. GP practices for example can bring in specialist nurses to undertake contracts in the recent cervical check disaster.

Travel is a another major factor behind the contract and temp economy,  which is sometimes overlooked. With so many people leaving Ireland to travel and moving here to live and work, it is no wonder that temping and contract work seems like the ideal option when sourcing employment. You may not necessarily want to enter into a long or permanent contract if your plan is to vacate the country in the next year or two, and the same can be said if you have moved here but do not see yourself staying in Ireland long term. Doctors tend to travel all over the world obtaining new skill sets and learning new ways of life.  This increase of professionals, especially recent graduates such as those from the MICGP programmes, who have a desire to travel has no doubt propelled the contract and temp economy to where it’s at today

What effect is this having on primary care and job seekers? 

The rise in the number of contract temporary employees in the workforce has had its own effects on both primary care and job seekers. It allows primary care to adapt to fluctuations in workload or staffing requirements both easily and efficiently although they may not see it this way. This means that employee shortages, whether caused by illness, sudden departures or other reasons, is not as serious an issue as it once was, and one that is easily resolved. This results in an overall more efficient workplace and a more flexible jobs market which is beneficial for both employers and employees. This in turn improves a primary care facilities productivity which will help with employee retention rates.

Another positive effect that this rise is having in terms of business, is that it allows an employer to evaluate a professional as a worker without making a huge commitment which they may later regret. This then results in a skilled workforce which are fit for the job. It is a cost efficient way of getting the job done, and is much easier than hiring a full time worker who may disappoint and having to let them go.

Med Doc are also well positioned in this market connecting all primary care providers with permanent and locum primary care professionals for placements across the island of Ireland. This includes
HSE Primary Care, General Practice, Urgent Care, Out of Hours, Rural Medicine, Family Medicine, Corporate Health and Student Health. We can do this by providing our clients with:

• A recruitment consultant with deep knowledge and understanding of the primary care market in Ireland
• Provide you with the support and advice in recruiting the right candidate for your vacancy
• Doctors and nurses who are fully vetted and compliant with IMC/NMBI standards prior to commencing any permanent or locum assignments.
• We work closely with the various GP training bodies as well as Professional Development Coordinators for Practice Nursing to ensure we maintain and provide all our clients with Ireland;s brightest young talent in primary care