Our Veterinary Services and Animal Care Workforce Development Plan contains further analysis of Industry, Workforce and Learner data trends.
Veterinary Services and Animal Care industry trends
The industry is steadily growing with expansion expected to continue over the next 5 years.
Veterinary Services and Animal Care is an industry grouping that includes rural veterinary technicians, animal care, equine nursing, pet grooming and veterinary nursing. In 2022, industry revenue for Veterinary Services and Animal Care was $1.4 billion and GDP was $570 million. GDP has been steadily growing and industry expansion is expected to continue over the next five years.
There has been strong increased demand for veterinary services. There has been a significant increase in the numbers of pets and pet ownership, especially during and since the COVID epidemic. According to Companion Animals NZ, there were almost 2.1 million pet cats and dogs in New Zealand in 2020 (latest data available), up from 1.8 million in 2015. This has driven a rise in pet-related services, such as animal 'daycare' and grooming. (IBISWorld, Veterinary Services in New Zealand, Feb 2023). A steady uptake of pet insurance has pushed demand for veterinary services higher.
Veterinary Services and Animal Care workforce trends
The workforce has been steadily growing with corresponding increases in learner numbers. We expect this trend to follow industry growth forecasts.
Veterinary Services and Animal Care workforce overview and highlighted demographics
The median earnings for the Veterinary Services and Animal Care industry have been consistently lower than that of all industries from 2015 to 2021, although they show a similar increasing trend. In 2020 there were 7,120 individuals in the Veterinary Services workforce, with 81% identifying as female, and 6% identifying as Māori. These figures were higher amongst learners. Out of the 2,785 learners in Veterinary Studies in 2021, 91% identified as female and 15% as Māori. Overall, both learner and workforce numbers have been increasing since 20151.
Which specific qualifications and credentials do you want to see growth in (that can be supported by TEC investment in 2025)?
| Qualification or credential | Mode | Specific regions? | Scale of change you are seeking for 2025 | Evidence of workforce need – include as text below the table or an attachment | Evidence that this provision will meet the workforce need | WDC-assigned priority level (for this advice) |
| New Zealand Certificate in Animal Care (Level 3): Companion Animals, Equine, and Rural Animals [2487] | 10-15% | There has been a significant increase in the numbers of pets and pet ownership, especially during and since the COVID epidemic. According to Companion Animals NZ, there were almost 2.1 million pet cats and dogs in New Zealand in 2020 (latest data available), up from 1.8 million in 2015. This has driven a rise in pet-related services, such as animal 'daycare' and grooming. Industry is looking to ensure that workers are appropriately skilled to maintain standards, including the interpersonal skills required to deal regularly with clientele, sometimes in emotionally charged environments. |
The New Zealand Certificate in Animal Care (Level 3) is the level entry qualification to the industry that provides individuals with the skills and knowledge to care for animals within welfare standards and practices. Enrolment growth has been strong over a reasonably short period, reflecting market demand. The proposed increase recognises this, but takes a balanced approach to ensure that there is not over-supply. This is something we will continue to monitor. |
Medium Priority | ||
| New Zealand Certificate in Animal Technology (Level 5): Rural Animal Technician, and Veterinary Nursing Assistant [2490] and New Zealand Certificate in Animal Healthcare Assisting (Level 4): Companion Animal Healthcare, Equine Healthcare, and Rural Animal Healthcare [4388] |
5% |
There has been strong increased demand for veterinary services. There has been a high and increasing pet ownership rate which has greatly increased demand for veterinary services and a steady uptake of pet insurance has pushed demand for veterinary services higher. (IBISWorld, Veterinary Services in New Zealand, Feb 2023). The industry has highlighted ongoing need for trained staff. The New Zealand Certificate in Animal Healthcare Assisting (Level 4) [4388] has replaced the New Zealand Certificate in Animal Technology (Level 5): Rural Animal Technician, and Veterinary Nursing Assistant [2490], but we still expect some final enrolments in the replaced qualification. In addition, as a new qualification the New Zealand Certificate in Animal Healthcare Assisting (Level 4) [4388] does not yet have significant enrolments. We are, therefore, basing our increase on the enrolments for the New Zealand Certificate in Animal Technology (Level 5): Rural Animal Technician, and Veterinary Nursing Assistant [2490]. |
The New Zealand Certificate in Animal Healthcare Assisting (Level 4): Companion Animal Healthcare, Equine Healthcare, and Rural Animal Healthcare provides the animal healthcare sector with people who have technical knowledge and skills to assist in the provision of healthcare for animal patients, working in collaboration with clients and multidisciplinary animal healthcare teams, and following protocols in all aspects of clinical veterinary practice or animal healthcare settings. | Priority | ||
| New Zealand Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (level 6) [2491] and New Zealand Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (level 6): Companion Animal Veterinary Nursing, and Equine Veterinary Nursing [4389] |
10-15% |
There has been strong increased demand for veterinary services. There has been a high and increasing pet ownership rate which has greatly increased demand for veterinary services and a steady uptake of pet insurance has pushed demand for veterinary services higher. (IBISWorld, Veterinary Services in New Zealand, Feb 2023). The industry has highlighted ongoing need for trained staff, especially veterinary nurses, with claims of high turnover and therefore a need for replacement workers. The New Zealand Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (level 6) [2491] has been replaced by the New Zealand Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (level 6): Companion Animal Veterinary Nursing, and Equine Veterinary Nursing [4389]. However, we understand that the date for last enrolment is likely to be extended and that the new qualification does not currently have strong provision. Our increase estimate is based on the trends we have seen in enrolments for New Zealand Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (level 6) [2491]. |
Graduates of the New Zealand Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (level 6) will have technical knowledge and skills to work as a veterinary nurse in a clinical veterinary setting. They will have a high level of responsibility and discretion within their scope of practice, in a wide range of dynamic and often unpredictable situations and following protocols in all aspects of clinical veterinary practice or animal healthcare settings. | Priority |
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In addition to the new qualifications set out above in the veterinary nursing/technician and animal care space designed with industry to meet its needs. As programmes are developed it is expected that enrolments will be low. As such we cannot specify the number of learners, but our expectation is that all enrolments would be able to be met. The qualifications are:
We also have the following qualification where we believe any increase will be minimal. We want to ensure that any extra enrolments are funded. We welcome discussion on any proposed delivery numbers that seem excessive. The qualification is:
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Which specific qualifications and credentials do you want to see changes in?
As we note in our overarching advice, we have not been specific about mode at a qualification level. However, in general, we recommend a preference for workplace training as part of the mix of the provision across all of our industries. This could include both work-based training and campus-based learning that include a strong component of practical ‘on job’ experience in a workplace setting.