Given the vast increase in the output of graduates, the planned expansion of higher education, and the real doubt that more highly skilled jobs will be created, a long term trend of increased competition for vacancies for high level skilled jobs seems inevitable. Most reasonably attractive training positions now require an upper second class degree as a basic requirement. However, although medical workforce planning is by no means perfect, doctors pursuing conventional medical careers are substantially protected by such planning and restrictions of posts to doctors. On the one hand, this highlights the vast range of alternative careers available to doctors. On the other hand, outside conventional medical careers, a medical degree may not be considered more favourably than degrees in other disciplines, despite the length of the medical course.
Most employers ask for evidence of demonstrable transferable generic skills.
Whereas employees might once have expected to stay in an organisation throughout their working lives, it is becoming normal for employees to move between organisations frequently. This causes increased job insecurity in employees, especially when economic depression is looming. In conventional medical careers there have been no threats to permanent con- tracts for senior doctors. Doctors have always worked long unsociable hours, but, at least for junior doctors, there has been a reduction of such commitments over the past decade. In this respect, the gap between doctors and other careers is rapidly narrowing.