Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Original Article

Korean occupational and environmental medicine specialists: demand-supply projections: Hee-Tae Kang, Hye-Eun Lee, Mo-Yeol Kang, Chungwon Kang, Kyong sok Shin, Hyeon-Taek Heo, Yong Lim Won, Jungwon Kim; Ann Occup Environ Med 2026;e34. Published online July 27, 2026; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2026.38.e34 [Accepted]

Abstract PDF: Background
Korea has experienced changes in the balance between the demand for and supply of occupational and environmental medicine (OEM) specialists due to recent policy and environmental shifts. This study projected demand and supply for these specialists for 2025–2035, focusing on those working in special health examination institutions and occupational health management agencies.
Methods
Demand was estimated by applying 2024 average workloads per OEM specialist to projected volumes of special health examinations and outsourced occupational health management for 2025–2035 under four scenarios that varied growth in outsourced management and the share of OEM specialists among participating physicians. Supply was projected using registration and official statistics for 1,010 specialists certified by 2025, combined with detailed residency cohort data, assumptions on future quotas, completion, and age at certification, and age-specific proportions working in the two institution types.
Results
Average workloads in 2024 were 4,793 workers per OEM specialist for special health examinations and 9,193 workers per physician for outsourced occupational health management. The number of OEM specialists younger than 90 years is projected to increase from 968 in 2025 to 1,244 in 2035, with those working in the two institution types increasing from 697 to 910. Depending on the scenario, demand in 2035 ranges from 838 to 943 specialists, with supply exceeding demand in three scenarios but remaining 33 specialists short in the most expansionary scenario.
Conclusions
Short‑term shortages of OEM specialists are likely but remain highly manageable, after which surplus capacity is expected. Policy efforts should therefore stabilize OEM residency pipelines and prepare institutional mechanisms to deploy surplus specialists beyond special health examinations and outsourced occupational health management.

195 View
5 Download

Original Article

Estimation of Demand and Supply for Occupational and Environmental Medicine Specialties in Korea (II): Demand Estimation and Demand-Supply Balance: Yoomi Chae, Jungwon Kim, Jonghan Leem; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2011;23(1):80-88. Published online March 31, 2011; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2011.23.1.80

OBJECTIVES
To estimate the demand and demand-supply balances of occupational and environmental medical specialties (OEMS) in the target year of 2020.
METHODS
We adopted a new OEMS demand model based on the situations of periodic workers' health examination (PHE) agencies, health management agencies (HMA), and legal enforcement for health and safety systems in Korea. The model uses data selected primarily from the database of the Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (KSOEM), a survey for certified members of KSOEM, statistics and internal documents from the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MOEL).
RESULTS
From the data and assumptions, newly demanded OEMS were 193 for workers who had received PHE, and 205 based on total workers for PHE in 2020 for PHE. But no OEMS for HMA area is demanded. Comparing with the calculated numbers of supply estimates, the demand was slightly higher, but could be balanced if MOEL kept consistent and unchanging policies.
CONCLUSIONS
The study results suggest that the demand-supply balance of OEMS is mainly influenced by the policy of MOEL. Further studies are needed examining more detailed data and statistics about PHE agencies, HMA and considering MOEL policies are needed to configuring more sophisticated and need-included estimation.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Residency programs and the outlook for occupational and environmental medicine in Korea
Youngil Lee, Jungwon Kim, Yoomi Chae
Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2015;[Epub] CrossRef

1,332 View
3 Download
1 Crossref

First
Prev
Page of 1
Next
Last

Search