Forty-five percent of dental hygienists say it is “extremely difficult” to find employment in their area due to a “large surplus” of dental hygienists, according to early returns in the RDH eVillage August 28 salary survey.
In the first seven days after the e-newsletter was deployed, 1,231 hygienists responded to the survey. In addition to requesting general information about salaries and benefits, the survey asked three questions related to the impact of the economy.
The statistic generated about the difficulty presented by local employment situations was in answer to, “In your opinion, what are employment options for dental hygienists like in your area.” The multiple choice question offered three answers:
- “About the same it has always been; hard to find a job at the best dental practices, but jobs are available.” (52% chose this answer.)
- “It is extremely difficult to find a job here; there is a large surplus of dental hygienists.” (45% chose this answer.)
- “There is a shortage of dental hygienists in our area; more jobs than there are dental hygienists.” (3% chose this answer.)
But apparently the impact of economic conditions is not leading many to think of a career change. Only 14% said they “often” think about a career change due to the job market.
The third question pertained to the dental hygienists’ perception about the dental practices in which they work. Fifty-four percent said “business is good, but it has slowed down somewhat.” Only 14 percent replied, “You can tell that the practice owners are very concerned about revenues.”
More details about the salary survey will be published in upcoming issues. RDH eVillage readers who did not respond to the first survey on Aug. 28 can still do so by clicking here.
A state-by-state analysis of the above three questions include (only states with more than 15 responses in the early returns are listed):
- Arizona: (36 responses) 60% said business is good but has slowed down somewhat; 17% often think of a career change; 58% say it’s extremely difficult to find a job due to a surplus of dental hygienists.
- California: (95 responses) 66% said business is good but has slowed down somewhat; 14% often think of a career change; 41% say it’s extremely difficult to find a job due to a surplus of dental hygienists.
- Colorado: (28 responses) 54% said business is good but has slowed down somewhat; 11% often think of a career change; 64% say it’s extremely difficult to find a job due to a surplus of dental hygienists.
- Connecticut: (17 responses) 53% said business is good but has slowed down somewhat; 18% often think of a career change; 24% say it’s extremely difficult to find a job due to a surplus of dental hygienists.
- Florida: (67 responses) 55% said business is good but has slowed down somewhat; 24% often think of a career change; 61% say it’s extremely difficult to find a job due to a surplus of dental hygienists.
- Georgia: (45 responses) 64% said business is good but has slowed down somewhat; 13% often think of a career change; 46% say it’s extremely difficult to find a job due to a surplus of dental hygienists.
- Illinois: (64 responses) 57% said business is good but has slowed down somewhat; 16% often think of a career change; 55% say it’s extremely difficult to find a job due to a surplus of dental hygienists.
- Indiana: (39 responses) 56% said business is good but has slowed down somewhat; 18% often think of a career change; 54% say it’s extremely difficult to find a job due to a surplus of dental hygienists.
- Iowa: (15 responses) 60% said business is good but has slowed down somewhat; 7% often think of a career change; 67% say it’s extremely difficult to find a job due to a surplus of dental hygienists.
- Kansas: (21 responses) 62% said business is good but has slowed down somewhat; 14% often think of a career change; 52% say it’s extremely difficult to find a job due to a surplus of dental hygienists.
- Kentucky: (16 responses) 56% said business is good but has slowed down somewhat; 19% often think of a career change; 31% say it’s extremely difficult to find a job due to a surplus of dental hygienists.
- Maryland: (26 responses) 46% said business is good but has slowed down somewhat; 4% often think of a career change; 8% say it’s extremely difficult to find a job due to a surplus of dental hygienists.
- Massachusetts: (34 responses) 66% said business is good but has slowed down somewhat; 12% often think of a career change; 40% say it’s extremely difficult to find a job due to a surplus of dental hygienists.
- Michigan: (57 responses) 53% said business is good but has slowed down somewhat; 23% often think of a career change; 77% say it’s extremely difficult to find a job due to a surplus of dental hygienists.
- Minnesota: (26 responses) 56% said business is good but has slowed down somewhat; 23% often think of a career change; 77% say it’s extremely difficult to find a job due to a surplus of dental hygienists.
- Missouri: (28 responses) 43% said business is good but has slowed down somewhat; 18% often think of a career change; 52% say it’s extremely difficult to find a job due to a surplus of dental hygienists.
- New Jersey: (32 responses) 38% said business is good but has slowed down somewhat; 22% often think of a career change; 13% say it’s extremely difficult to find a job due to a surplus of dental hygienists.
- New York: (54 responses) 40% said business is good but has slowed down somewhat; 11% often think of a career change; 25% say it’s extremely difficult to find a job due to a surplus of dental hygienists.
- North Carolina: (36 responses) 51% said business is good but has slowed down somewhat; 11% often think of a career change; 50% say it’s extremely difficult to find a job due to a surplus of dental hygienists.
- Ohio: (56 responses) 46% said business is good but has slowed down somewhat; 20% often think of a career change; 64% say it’s extremely difficult to find a job due to a surplus of dental hygienists.
- Oregon: (17 responses) 59% said business is good but has slowed down somewhat; 6% often think of a career change; 35% say it’s extremely difficult to find a job due to a surplus of dental hygienists.
- Pennsylvania: (59 responses) 55% said business is good but has slowed down somewhat; 9% often think of a career change; 29% say it’s extremely difficult to find a job due to a surplus of dental hygienists.
- Tennessee: (23 responses) 52% said business is good but has slowed down somewhat; 0% often think of a career change; 46% say it’s extremely difficult to find a job due to a surplus of dental hygienists.
- Texas: (59 responses) 48% said business is good but has slowed down somewhat; 12% often think of a career change; 19% say it’s extremely difficult to find a job due to a surplus of dental hygienists.
- Utah: (17 responses) 41% said business is good but has slowed down somewhat; 12% often think of a career change; 53% say it’s extremely difficult to find a job due to a surplus of dental hygienists.
- Virginia: (30 responses) 57% said business is good but has slowed down somewhat; 10% often think of a career change; 33% say it’s extremely difficult to find a job due to a surplus of dental hygienists.
- Washington: (52 responses) 50% said business is good but has slowed down somewhat; 6% often think of a career change; 29% say it’s extremely difficult to find a job due to a surplus of dental hygienists.
- Wisconsin: (36 responses) 44% said business is good but has slowed down somewhat; 11% often think of a career change; 58% say it’s extremely difficult to find a job due to a surplus of dental hygienists.
