Healthcare professionals gain 20-30% wage hike when moving jobs

Sector is still in a hiring spree.

According to Robert Walters' 2013 Global Salary Survey, there was a continued growth
and
replacement
hiring in the technical healthcare sector,
with
notable demand
for
medical
affairs
professionals
in pharmaceutical
and
nutrition
firms.

Companies
sought
candidates
with
strong
soft skills,
strong
commercial
acumen
and
good stakeholder
management
skills.
Candidates sought
to
move
from
local
to
regional
roles
as they
were
looking
to
build
a
long-term
career, with
most
typically
recieving
salary
increases
of 20
-
30%
when
moving
jobs.

As
large organisations
built
up
their
regional
operations, they
sought
candidates
at
executive
to director
levels.
However,
there
was
an
acute talent
shortage
as
candidates
had
to
be
a certified
doctor
to
be
technically
competent
for this
role.

Employers
were
aware
of
the
scarcity of
such
high-skilled
professionals
locally
and were
therefore
willing
to
consider
overseas talent
from
neighbouring
markets
such
as Malaysia,
Thailand
and
the
Philippines.

Within
technical
healthcare,
the survey
sees
a
rising demand
for
clinical
research
professionals, where
a
scientific related
degree
is
required. Companies
are
also
looking
to
expand
the cancer
and
diabetes
development
areas, which
will
fuel
the
need
for
specialist
medical and
research
skills.

Firms within the chemicals, pharmaceutical and medical devices sectors are likely to hire to support business growth. Among these businesses, there will continue to be demand for sales and marketing professionals and general managers with profit and loss experience and the ability to generate revenue.

The survey also said that there is an anticipation for increased job levels in the technical healthcare space, with high demand for regulatory affairs, pharmacovigilance, medical representatives and clinical research professionals with the prerequisite scientific related degrees as Singapore aims to establish itself as a medical hub for the region.

However, the survey adds that recruiting high-calibre local candidates will continue to be challenging as the local talent pool remains limited. Because of
these shortages, talent retention and attraction is likely to becomeincreasingly important for employers looking to sustain their long-term growth plans.