OSCA 244731

Medical Laboratory Scientist

Overview

  • Employed persons

    21,500

  • Employment status

    71.9% Full time

    28.1% Part time

  • Median age

    38 years

  • Employment by sex

    69.2% Female

    30.8% Male

    Moderately female dominated

  • Indigenous employment share

    0.5%

  • Main employing industry

    Health Care and Social Assistance

Indicator Medical Laboratory Scientist Total employment
Employed persons 21,500 12,049,400
Median age 38 years 40 years
Full-time share 71.9% 64.2%
Part-time share 28.1% 35.8%
Female employment share 69.2% 48.5%
Male employment share 30.8% 51.5%
Gender segregation intensity scale Moderately female dominated Gender balanced
Indigenous employment share 0.5% 2.2%
Main employing industry Health Care and Social Assistance Health Care and Social Assistance
Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.

Occupation overview

Medical Laboratory Scientists perform, validate and interpret the results of medical laboratory tests designed to assist in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of human disease.

What the occupation involves

  • Prepares blood, fluid and tissue samples for microscopic examination
  • Performs a wide range of laboratory tests on patient samples, including blood, urine and tissue samples
  • Analyses samples to study, diagnose and treat diseases
  • Evaluates test results and communicates these to Medical Practitioners
  • Establishes the steps and rules of laboratory medical testing
  • Operates and maintains laboratory equipment
  • Ensures laboratory quality assurance and safety standards are met
  • Prepares scientific papers and reports
  • Supervises and teaches other staff such as Medical Laboratory Technicians
  • Develops new methods and applies the latest improvements in technology for laboratory testing

Common occupation titles

  • Hospital Scientist
  • Medical Scientific Officer
  • Medical Scientist

Specialisations

  • Cytologist
  • IVF Embryologist

Note: Specialisations are examples of roles in within this occupation and are not separate OSCA occupations.

Skill level (education and experience level)

Skill level 1
equivalent to a university level qualification (Bachelor degree or higher).

Note: While skill levels are described using formal education levels, some people use a combination of informal learning, on-the-job training and personal experience to achieve an equivalent level.

Licensing or registration requirements

Registration or licensing may be required.

OSCA structure

Employment

On this page

    Industries

    Top 10 most common industries, 2021

    Medical Laboratory Scientist Total employment
    Industry Share of occupation Industry Share of occupation
    Health Care and Social Assistance 53.4% Health Care and Social Assistance 14.5%
    Professional, Scientific and Technical Services 23.3% Retail Trade 9.1%
    Education and Training 15.0% Construction 8.9%
    Manufacturing 1.9% Education and Training 8.8%
    Public Administration and Safety 1.7% Professional, Scientific and Technical Services 7.8%
    Wholesale Trade 1.6% Public Administration and Safety 6.6%
    Other Services 0.7% Accommodation and Food Services 6.5%
    Administrative and Support Services 0.2% Manufacturing 5.9%
    Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing 0.1% Transport, Postal and Warehousing 4.5%
    Rental, Hiring and Real Estate Services 0.1% Financial and Insurance Services 3.7%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.

    States and territories

    Employment distribution by states and territories, 2021

    • New South Wales

      28.9%

    • Victoria

      32.1%

    • Queensland

      17.9%

    • South Australia

      7.3%

    • Tasmania

      1.5%

    • Northern Territory

      0.7%

    • Australian Capital Territory

      1.6%

    Medical Laboratory Scientist Total employment
    State / Territory Employment Share of occupation Employment Share of occupation
    New South Wales 6,200 28.9% 3,684,200 30.6%
    Victoria 6,900 32.1% 3,162,900 26.2%
    Queensland 3,800 17.9% 2,444,100 20.3%
    South Australia 1,600 7.3% 839,400 7.0%
    Western Australia 2,100 10.0% 1,306,200 10.8%
    Tasmania 320 1.5% 254,700 2.1%
    Northern Territory 150 0.7% 107,000 0.9%
    Australian Capital Territory 350 1.6% 248,600 2.1%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.

    Age and sex

    Employment distibution by age group and sex, 2021

    Medical Laboratory Scientist

    Total employment

    Age group Medical Laboratory Scientist Total employment
    15–24 years 5.9% 14.3%
    25–34 years 31.4% 22.7%
    35–44 years 30.8% 22.3%
    45–54 years 16.9% 20.4%
    55–64 years 11.9% 15.3%
    65–74 years 2.9% 4.3%
    75 years and over 0.3% 0.6%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.
    Sex Medical Laboratory Scientist Total employment
    Female 69.2% 48.5%
    Male 30.8% 51.5%
    Note: N/A values indicate data are not available due to confidentiality or data reliability requirements.

    On this page

      OSCA occupation profiles data

      This file contains data available from the OSCA Occupation Profile page.

      Use of this data must include the relevant attribution text provided.

      OSCA Occupation data - 2021 Census.xlsx

      xlsx 1236447

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      Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA)

      Occupation Standard Classification for Australia (OSCA) is the skill-based classification used to categorise occupations across the Australian labour market. OSCA is used to define occupations across all official occupational statistics. OSCA replaces the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO).

      Each job is classified to one, and only one, group of jobs at each level of the classification with no overlaps. This prevents the accidental double-counting of roles within the Australian labour market. For more information about OSCA, visit the What is OSCA information page, or the ABS website.

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