Healthcare: The New Favoured Sector

With the advancement of technology, the healthcare sector has seen new roles being created. Popular healthcare roles are no longer limited to that of doctors and nurses – today’s healthcare roles incorporate various skills and specialisations.

What are students looking for when they are considering a scholarship? Well, judging by the most preferred scholarships revealed in the latest BrightSparks Scholarship & Education Survey 2015, it seems like it all boils down to the basic fundamentals of job stability and progression.
 
Most individuals were brought up to believe that the best careers were in sectors such as aviation and medicine. Perhaps this was so deeply instilled that it has shaped the aspirations of many students. A high-flying job in aviation is always sought after, as evident from Changi Airport Group being one of students’ preferred scholarship providers in recent years. Of course, the healthcare sector is another steady favourite, and its star has been steadily rising. Scholarships awarded by healthcare organisations have gained considerable popularity among students – this year, the BrightSparks Scholarship & Education Survey shows that these health-related scholarships are among the most popular.
 
With the advancement of technology, the healthcare sector has seen new roles being created. Popular healthcare roles are no longer limited to that of doctors and nurses – today’s healthcare roles incorporate various skills and specialisations. For instance, pharmacists and various therapists play an important role in patients’ healthcare process.
 
A Supply and Demand Situation
 
Why this sudden interest in healthcare then, one may ask. It is possible to attribute one of the reasons to the recent emphasis on greater healthcare need in Singapore. As we all know, our country is facing a rapidly ageing population which will require more medical attention in the near future. This makes the healthcare sector a stable one, as demand dictates. An ageing population also creates the need for more professionals specialising in aged care provision such as rehabilitation and social services. Students are recognising this need and are proactively choosing to pursue a career in healthcare.
 
How Can Healthcare Employers Stand Out?

With more roles opening up in the healthcare industry, how should healthcare providers position themselves so that they stand out, apart from offering valuable scholarships? The answer lies in employer branding. Healthcare organisations must market themselves as an employer of choice in order to attract students, as the number of healthcare scholarships increases.
 
There are many ways to go about doing so, including promoting a vibrant work culture. It all begins in the workplace itself. For instance, healthcare providers can start by encouraging a work-life balance and fostering ties through team-bonding activities. The employee is, after all, a company’s greatest spokesperson – someone who is able to get the good word out publicly and quickly. Organisations should consider setting up a social media page featuring light-hearted behind-the-scenes snippets of a typical work day, shedding the rigidity usually associated with the healthcare profession. 
 
Another way healthcare organisations can attract students is to offer internship programmes that provide on-the-job training indispensable to their future careers. There is also the added incentive of gaining a full-time employee should the intern show promise.
 
In conclusion, while scholarships are still an attractive draw to students, organisations will have to do more than merely offer it. With the plethora of scholarships available, each with its own merits and rewards, sectors requiring more talents will have to think outside the box in order to attract them.