NGO workforce estimates: 2022 survey of adult alcohol and drug and mental health services report

This report presents estimates for the NGO adult alcohol and drug and mental health (including forensic) workforce based on the 2022 NGO workforce survey.

The survey sought information from 214 NGOs contracted to deliver adult alcohol and drug and mental health (including forensic) services. It collated information about their workforce size (employed and vacant), composition, and turnover trends.

One hundred and eleven NGOs completed some or all of the survey. Key findings are as follows.

• The workforce totals 5,165 FTE positions (employed and vacant).
• Vacancy rates (11 percent) are more than twice those of 2018 (5 percent) and some recovery may be underway.
• The workforce is comprised of support workers (60 percent), registered health professionals (21 percent), and advisors, managers, and administrators (19 percent).
• The lived experience workforce comprises around 9 percent of the total NGO workforce, Māori cultural roles are 6 percent, and Pasifika cultural roles around 2 percent.

The report finds some progress towards health policy and strategy goals to grow the number of Kaupapa Māori NGOs delivering services, increase lived experience, Māori, and Pasifika leadership in the sector, and grow the lived experience and Māori and Pasifika cultural workforce. It provides useful information for future monitoring. The report concludes that workforce development is needed to return vacancy rates to previous norms, sustain high recruitment rates, and address retention challenges.