sector skills plan for the health sector in south africa

Figure 2-2 Professionals by population group in the health sector
d) Gender
Seventy five per cent of the workforce in the health sector (professionals included) are women and only
25% men. In private health, 70% of professionals are women, as are 80% of professionals in the Public
Service (Table 2-9). The majority of the community and personal service workers in private and in public
health are also women.
Table 2-4 Total employment in private and public health according to gender
Occupational category
Private Sector*
Public Service**
Men Women Total Men Women Total
% %
Managers 44 56 100 33 67 100
Professionals 30 70 100 20 80 100
Technicians and Trades
workers 42 58 100 61 39 100
Community and Personal
Service workers 15 85 100 22 78 100
Clerical and
Administrative workers 27 73 100 34 66 100
Sales workers 19 81 100 51 49 100
Machinery operators and
Drivers 62 38 100 76 24 100
Elementary workers 34 66 100 31 69 100
Total 27 73 25 75 100
Source: *HWSETA, WSP applications, 2010 and MEDpages database, September 2010.
**PERSAL data as at 8 September, 2010.
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