2. Jobs

Nurses make up 74% of the regulated health workforce in the Pacific Region.

• Women comprise 95% of this workforce,
• 51% of nurses are under the age of 35,
• The industry’s average retirement age is 55.

The Centre aims to understand this dynamic workforce by researching the perceived value of nursing in local settings. This enables us to find ways of creating more robust policy, frameworks and codes that governments and healthcare worker’s support, whilst also ensuring that current and future workers possess the skills needed to combat local healthcare needs. The current policy priorities are to:

1. Conduct nursing and midwifery workforces planning and forecasting through a health labour market lens.
2. Ensure adequate demand (jobs) with respect to health service deliver for primary health care and other population health priorities.
3. Reinforce implementation of the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel.
4. Attract, recruit and retain midwives and nurses where they are most needed.

Our work also incorporates regional research into how the international code on migration of healthcare workers can be improved to enhance the ability for healthcare to move within the Pacific, thus enabling greater mobility of healthcare professionals.

Basic Psychosocial Skills: A Guide for COVID-19 Responders
Date:  2021 - Ongoing
WHO CC Involvement: Michele Rumsey, Lisa Townsend, Jane Maquire, and the WHO Regional Team