What’s the Future for the Veterinary Industry?
You might believe that the veterinary industry is an area that will stay relatively stable over time. People continue to love their pets and, consequently, animal care is necessary. However, although vets will continue to play an essential role in our lives, the industry itself is facing some big challenges. In this blog post, we look at the current issues in veterinary medicine and think about how these may result in significant changes within the veterinary industry.
A shift in gender balance
At the moment, the future of the veterinary industry is looking as though it will be female. Far more women are choosing to study veterinary science at university, which means that those coming into the profession are more often female than male. Currently, there is still a gender pay gap within the profession, but with an increasing number of women entering the industry, there may soon be demands for change.
The effects of leaving the EU
One of the most significant current issues in veterinary medicine is the impact of leaving the European Union. While no one can predict exactly what will happen, the veterinary industry needs to be prepared for any shifts that this may create. There may well be a crisis in veterinary employment levels if those from the EU cannot or do not want to work in the UK any longer.
The impact of technology
Technological advances in veterinary science are likely to have a positive impact on the future of the industry. Hopefully, with increased research into technology to assist the veterinary industry, diagnoses will become more accurate and administration at vet clinics will become far more efficient and manageable.
A demand for higher standards of care
In our previous blog post, we discussed the ways that attitudes to animal welfare have changed over the years and these changes may well affect the way that the veterinary industry operates. Vets are likely to come under more pressure to instruct pet owners on how to properly care for their animals, ignoring fears that they may cause offence. However, the prevalence of online reviews also means that customer service at vet clinics will also become more important for business. Vets will, therefore, be required to strike a careful balance!
If you are concerned about any of the current issues in veterinary medicine, particularly in relation to leaving the EU, why not have a chat with us about our recruitment process? We also regularly update our list of available candidates if you are looking to employ more staff.