Health Care and Social Assistance sector profile launched

26 February 2014

Health Care and Social Assistance sector profile launched

This afternoon the last in a series of sector profiles will be launched in Palmerston North. The Health Care and Social Assistance sector is the largest sector in the Manawatū and is achieving the highest rate of growth of all sectors.

The sector profile is authored by Palmerston North City Council’s economic policy advisor Peter Crawford. He says the Health and Social Assistance Sector took over in 2012 from education as Manatwatū’s largest sector in terms of economic activity.

The report also found that:

• Earnings generated in the sector (salaries, wages, self-employment) equalled $347 million in the year to March 2012 (12.8% of total earnings in the region).

• Annual earnings increased by $204 million between 2000 and 2012, an increase of 143%: 17% of total income growth in the region. Total income growth in the region was 78% so health is growing at nearly twice the rate of the rest of the economy.

Peter Crawford says nationally the health sector is also the fastest growing sector. “Manawatū is fortunate to have significant strengths in the sector since it will continue to be a significant contributor to strong economic growth in the region.”

Palmerston North Mayor Jono Naylor says it is easy in a developed nation like ours to forget how fundamental good health is to general well-being and economic prosperity.

“There has been significant growth in residential care services, 62% job growth since 2000, nearly double the rate of growth nationally,” the Mayor said. “While retirement village growth is a factor in this, the strongest growth has been in other care services. Included in this category are the Hospice, mental health services and care services for people with an intellectual disability. Providing high quality of care isn’t just about the amount of economic activity created but about enhancing the quality of life for all people in our community.”

While the MidCentral District Health Board is the largest employer in the sector it is obvious the strength of the region in health and care services reflects strength in the government, business and not-for-profit sector organisations in the region. It is hard to list all of the major participants without overlooking key organisations but many of them are represented at the profile launch.

The Health Care and Social Assistance sector profile is being launched at the Palmerston North Convention Centre at 4:30, speakers include Ian McKelvie, MP for Rangitīkei, Murray Georgel, chief executive MidCentral District Health Board; Clare Crawley, acting chief executive – strategy at UCOL; and, Cynric Temple-Camp, chief executive officer of Medlab Central.

The Health Care and Social Assistance sector profile is the final in a series of sector profiles produced by the Palmerston North City Council. The others are:
• Defence Sector
• Not for Profit Sector
• Research, Science & Technology
• Logistics and Supply chain
• Tourism and Visitor
• Government Sector
• Manufacturing Sector
• Agricultural Sector
• Education Sector
• Construction Sector

All profiles can be found at: http://www.pncc.govt.nz/news-events-and-culture/about/economy/sector-profiles/

ENDS

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