Workforce data and insights

Understanding the mental health and addiction workforce is crucial to its planning and development. Te Pou regularly gathers workforce information and analyses this with other available information. Find out more about these activities in the following sections.

• Te Pou workforce reports
• Workforce insights using Te Pou and others’ data
• How Te Pou can help you
• Other data collections

We also provide guidance, resources, and advice for workforce planning and development.

Te Pou regularly collects information about the workforce in mental health and addiction services for adults (people aged 18 and over). Our reports describe the full-time equivalent (FTE) size, role composition, vacancy and turnover rates, as well as information about Te Whatu Ora employees.

View our latest reports here:

We regularly update this information, using the following methods.

You can use the sidebar menu to find and select reports from earlier years.

Te Pou also reports on the profile of health coach and health improvement practitioner trainees.

Te Pou analyses our workforce data and information from other collections to better understand the mental health and addiction workforce. This informs sector planning and development activities.

This work tells us that the workforce:

• is mature, mostly female, ethnically diverse, and highly qualified and experienced
• profile varies for different providers, types of services, and workforce role groups
• support workers are the largest role group followed by nurses and allied health workers
• is growing strongly for lived experience worker roles.

It also informs us about the providers delivering services, including that:

• services are delivered by over 200 NGOs and all 20 Te Whatu Ora providers
• NGOs employ two-fifths of the workforce and Te Whatu Ora employ the rest
• one in three NGO providers are kaupapa Māori organisations.

Read more in our latest publications.

Wondering how to get a better understanding of your workforce and compare it with others in the sector? Te Pou can help.

Check out our workforce data tools and resources.

You can also look at our Workforce planning and development webpage for advice on how data can inform growing and shaping your workforce to deliver future services.

Te Pou can help with in-person advice and information. Contact us at workforce@tepou.co.nz

Te Pou is one of many agencies that collect and report on mental health and addiction workforce. Others include:

• Whāraurau
• Te Rau Ora and Whare Tukutuku
• Professional bodies like dapaanz
• Te Hiringa Mahara the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission
• Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora employees looking for their workforce information by region or district can contact enablement@tewhatuora.govt.nz directly for support.