Destinations and Remuneration of

1996 Dental Graduates



by

Margaret Y. L. Lee

Careers Education & Placement Counsellor

and

Nelson Yip

Executive Officer



The analysis is based on information provided by the respondents, and the Careers Education & Placement Center should not be held responsible for any errors arising therefrom.

CONTENTS

  1. Executive Summary
  2. Methodology
  3. Summary of Results
  4. Statistical Tables and Charts

Tables :

Table 1 Employment Situation of New Dental Graduates
Table 2 First Destinations of New Dental Graduates
Table 3 Job Lead Source for New Dental Surgeons
Table 4A Work Locations of New Dental Surgeons
Table 4B Work Areas of New Dental Surgeons

Charts :

Chart 1 Time Taken to Secure Employment 1996
Chart 2 Hours of Work of New Dental Surgeons (1995-1996)
Chart 3 Average Daily Caseload of New Dental Surgeons (1995-1996)
Chart 4 Monthly Income of 1996 New Dental Surgeons (Before Tax)
Chart 5 Job Satisfaction
Chart 6 Job Satisfaction - Evaluation on Various Job Factors
Chart 7 Future Plans of New Dental Graduates



EMPLOYMENT SITUATION

1996 DENTAL GRADUATES


    EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    1. This year a total of 38 students graduated from the Faculty of Dentistry.
    2. Of the 36 respondents, two graduates reported unemployment while two graduates were employed as dental surgeons on a part-time basis. All those in full-time employment worked as dental surgeons.
    3. No graduate had set up his/her own clinic. However, more than half of them (57%) planned to do so in future.
    4. The time taken to secure employment was similar to last year. 84% were able to obtain job offers before the end of September 1996.
    5. Compared with 1995, a lower percentage of graduates worked more than 40 hours (excluding lunch hours) per week. However, an increase in average daily caseload was reported.
    6. The net average monthly income was $29,000, up 16% from last year's $25,000.
    7. A higher percentage of dental graduates in 1996 (94%) were satisfied with their jobs, as compared to 91% in 1995.



    METHODOLOGY

    1. Questionnaires were sent out to all graduates in November 1996, with two subsequent reminders. Checking of questionnaires and telephone -chasing took place between late January and mid-February 1997. Data validation and analysis as well as compilation of statistical tables were done in March and April 1997. A total of 36 graduates replied, representing a response rate of 95%. A detailed breakdown of response rates by curriculum is in Table 1



    SUMMARY OF RESULTS

    1. Employment Situation

      2. Among the 36 dental graduates who responded to the survey, 31 (86%) secured full-time employment as dental surgeons within six months of graduation. Two (5.6%) were still seeking employment and two (5.6%) were employed as part-time salaried dental surgeons. One (2.8%) dental graduate indicated that she would leave Hong Kong. (Table 1)

    2. Employment Destinations of New Dental Graduates

      3. The 31 full-time employed graduates shared a total of 38 jobs. 7 graduates took up two jobs concurrently.

      24 jobs (63%) were in private clinics. 10 jobs (26%) were held in the Prince Philip Dental Hospital while 4 jobs (11%) were in non-profit making agencies subvented by Government. As in the previous year, no graduate had set up his/her own clinic. For the fourth consecutive year, no dental graduate was employed by Government. (Table 2)

    3. Time Taken to Secure Employment

      4. The time taken to secure employment was similar to last year. By September 1996, 84% of the 1996 graduates had secured employment (85% in 1995). (Chart 1)

    4. Job Lead Source

      5. CEPC job notices posted in the Faculty accounted for 52% of the job leads, a significant increase from last year's 33%. Friends and relatives supplied another 16%, while Dental Association Newsletters were quoted as the job lead source by 13% of the graduates. (Table 3)

    5. Workload

      6. The working hours of the new dental surgeons ranged from less than 30 hours to 70 hours per week.

      65% of 1996 graduates reported working 41 or more hours per week (excluding lunch hours) as compared to 71% in 1995. ( Chart 2)

      42% attended to more than 10 treatments per working day as compared to 27% in 1995. (Chart 3)

    6. Income

      7. The monthly income of the 1996 dental graduates ranged from $16,000 to $35,000. The median and mean net monthly income (before tax) of the 1996 new dental surgeons were $29,000 and $26,948 respectively, up 16% and 3.4% from last year's $25,000 and $26,058. (Chart 4)

    7. Job Satisfaction

      8. 94% of the dental graduates were very satisfied or quite satisfied with their jobs (91% in 1995). The most important factors of satisfaction were responsibility given at work and recognition / status that went with the job. Dissatisfaction stemmed mainly from concern about organization policies and advancement/career prospects. (Charts 5 & Chart 6)

    8. Future Plans

      9. More than half (57%) of the dental graduates planned to set up private practice in future (52% in 1995). 29% indicated a wish for hospital/clinic work. (Chart 7)



STATISTICAL TABLES



Table 1

EMPLOYMENT SITUATION OF NEW DENTAL GRADUATES

1992 TO 1996

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

Population

48

33

40

37

38

Response rate

93.8%

93.9%

95.0%

91.9%

94.7%

No. of respondents

45

31

38

34

36

  1. Full-time employed (as dental surgeon)

42

27

35

34

31

  1. Full-time further studies

0

0

1

0

0

  1. Outside Dentistry

0

0

0

0

0

  1. Part-time employed

1

4

2

0

2

  1. Unemployed

2

0

0

0

2

  1. Away from Hong Kong

0

0

0

0

1




Table2

FIRST DESTINATION OF NEW DENTAL GRADUATES

1992 TO 1996

TR>
DESTINATION

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

Dentistry -
Government Service 1
(2.0%) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0) 		0
(0)
Community Clinics (1) 4
(7.8%)		 5
(15.6%)		 4
(9.8%)		 4
(9.8%)		 4
(10.5%)
  1. non-profit making agencies subvented by Government
(4)
(3)
(4)
(3)
(4)
  1. Commercial organizations (2)
-
(2)
(0)
(1)
(0)
Prince Philip Dental Hospital 8
(15.7%) 		5
(15.6%) 		8
(19.5%) 		9
(22.0%) 		10
(26.3%)
Private Clinics (3)
36
(70.6%)
17
(50.1%)
28
(68.3%)
28
(68.3%)
24
(63.2%)
  1. as associates or partners
(16)
(6)
(5)
(8)
(10)
  1. as paid employees
(20)
(11)
(23)
(20)
(14)
Private Clinics,
self-employed as sole proprietor 		2
(3.9%) 		5
(15.6%) 		1
(19.5%) 		0
(22.0%) 		0
(26.3%)
In the course of setting up own practice 0 0 0 0 0
TOTAL NO. OF JOBS HELD (**) 51
(100%) 		32
(100%) 		41
(100%) 		41
(100%) 		38
(100%)

(**) Figures indicate that some graduates held more than one dental job.

  1. Community Clinics are those run by non-profit making or commercial organizations.

  2. Commercial organization clinics are those run by organizations for their staff.

  3. Private Clinics are those run by individual or groups of dentists.



Table 3

JOB LEAD SOURCE
FOR NEW DENTAL SURGEONS

JOB LEAD SOURCE NO. OF GRADUATES
CEPC Job Notices posted
in the Faculty 		16(51.6%)
Friends and Relatives 5(16.1%)
Dental Association Newsletters 4(12.9%)
Lecturers 3(9.7%)
Newspapers 3(9.7%)
TOTAL 31(100.0%)




Table 4A

WORK LOCATIONS OF NEW DENTAL SURGEONS

DISTRICT NO. OF NEW (*)
DENTAL SURGEONS
Hong Kong
Kowloon
New Territories 		15(44.1%)
8(23.5%)
11(32.4%)
TOTAL 34(100.0%)

(*) Figures indicate that some graduates worked in more than one location




Table 4B

WORK AREAS OF NEW DENTAL SURGEONS

AREAS NO. OF NEW (*)
DENTAL SURGEONS
Residental Area
Commercial Area
Others 		19(59.4%)
6(18.8%)
7(21.9%)
TOTAL 32(100.0%)

No Response=1

(*) Figures indicate that some graduates worked in more than one area.

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