The labour market for nurses appears to be persistently in a state of shortage, as
evidenced by regular reports of “the nursing crisis”. This paper draws on data from
two surveys to investigate critical aspects of the working lives of Australian nurses: a
survey of Registered Nurses in Western Australia and the nationally representative
Household Income and Labour Dynamics Australia survey. While nurses face strong
employment opportunity, consistent with an occupational shortage, there is evidence
of widespread dissatisfaction on other aspects of their jobs. Despite strong
dissatisfaction with pay, estimated wage equations suggest that, by and large,
nurses’ pay is in line with that of other women when other factors are controlled for.
Dissatisfaction with non-pay aspects of the job appears to have a stronger influence
on overall job satisfaction and on intentions to leave the profession. The age profile
and future intentions of the current nurse workforce suggests a continuing, if not
worsening, shortage of qualified nurses in Australia.