2025
38
2025
Sector Overviews
Medical Locum
“I enjoy the flexibility that contracting work gives me. In general, it’s less political, and when you want a change, it’s easy to move. Provided you do a good job, it’s normally easy to go back to previous clients.”
Quote from Respondent
The role of locum doctors and pharmacists in Ireland is undergoing significant transformation
shaped by technological advancements, shifting demographics between urban and rural areas, and the increasing demands on the healthcare system. It is expected that both the medical and pharmacy locum sectors are poised for growth in the coming years. This expansion is driven by Ireland’s ongoing healthcare workforce shortages and the growing preference among professionals for flexible work arrangements. As the population ages and the need for healthcare services escalates, locum work will remain an indispensable component of the healthcare landscape.
In the medical locum sector, a large portion of healthcare staffing, particularly in hospitals and GP practices, depends on locum doctors. These professionals play a crucial role in addressing staffing needs across a range of specialties, including paediatrics, geriatrics, and mental health services. Locum doctors provide essential support to ensure continuity of care in a healthcare system under pressure.
Although the locum pharmacy sector is smaller in scale, it is vital to the smooth operation of community pharmacies. Community pharmacies frequently rely on locum pharmacists to address staffing gaps. A survey conducted by the Irish Pharmacy Union (IPU) revealed that many community pharmacies employ locum staff regularly, with temporary coverage often exceeding 30% of staffing needs during peak times. Together, these locum sectors form a critical part of Ireland’s healthcare framework, with independent professionals ensuring the delivery of essential services.
The Medical Locum Contractor Landscape is Changing
The Shortest Contract Length
A feature of medical locum work is shorter contract lengths compared to other sectors. This is very evident this year with 79% of all contracts 6 months or less.
Average Daily Rate
€474
Gender Split
52
Men
44
Women
4
Undisclosed
Men
Women
Undisclosed
0
20
40
60
80
100
Gender Split
The medical locum sector is the only sector where the percentage of female independent professionals is well above the average. In 2025 medical locum sector results show 44% female contractors work in the sector, whereas the average across all other major contracting sectors is 27%.
Additional Information
Age
The average age in the medical locum sector continues to fall. The average age in 2025 is 38 years down from 40 years in 2024. There has been a 50% reduction in the percentage of contractors 50 years or older working in the sector from 2024 to 2025.
Additional Information
Average Age
40
2024
42
2023
46
2022
41
2021
Daily Rate & Sector
The average daily rate has dropped from €522 in 2024 to €474 in 2025. 71% of contractors in the medical locum sector have an average daily rate less than €500. 34% have an average daily rate between €200 and €399.
Medical locum work has seen a decrease of 7% in the private sector and 10% in the public sector since last year, and 17% of work is being found in “other sectors”. This is the highest percentage for other sectors compared to previous years.
Additional Information
Education
All respondents working in the medical locum sector hold a level 6 or higher qualification on the National Framework of Qualifications. 52% hold masters degree qualifications. The number of respondents holding ‘other professional qualifications’ has risen from 15% in 2024 to 26% in 2025.
Additional Information
Contract Length
A feature of medical locum work is shorter contract lengths compared to other sectors, this is very evident this year with 79% of all contracts 6 months or less and the remaining 21% of contracts 12 months or less. Contractors operating in this sector experienced a huge difference in the length of their contracts during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Additional Information
Average Contract Length Over The Years
5
Months
6
Months
2024
21
Months
2023
34
Months
2022
8
Months
2021
How Medical Locums Feel About Their Work
96% of medical Locums are satisfied with their life in general. This is the highest rating in relation to their lives in general since the research began 5 years ago. The 2025 satisfaction scores have increased for the rate of pay 84% up from 70% in 2024, location of the job up from 70% in 2024 to 84% in 2025, and work life balance is up from 67% in 2024 to 80% in 2025. The satisfaction rating for the flexibility of hours decreased from 93% in 2024 to 88% in 2025. Remote working options still scores lowest in terms of satisfaction ratings with only 23% of medical locums satisfied. As many locums need to be physically present in a hospital, practice or pharmacy to work, it is no surprise that they have an low satisfaction rating for remote working options.
Additional Information
Employability
Medical locums are confident that their experience is in demand on the labour market, with 81% of respondents in agreement with that statement. 77% of respondents also agree that it would be easy for them to find another contract.
Additional Information
Future Expectations
73% of participants agreed that the availability of contract work in the next 12 months would be the same or increase. 81% expect the daily rate to stay the same or increase. 70% expect the contracting sector to stay the same or increase in the next 3-5 years. 73% of respondents also think that the Irish economy will perform the same or better in 2025 compared with 2024.
Additional Information
Confidence Index
Medical Locums are confident about both the future of the contracting sector and the future performance of the Irish economy. They have a confidence index score of +4 for the contracting sector in the next 3-5 years, and a score of +8 for the performance of the Irish economy in 2025.
The Irish Economy
Confidence Index
| Medical Locum | |
| 2025 | +8 |
| 2024 | +3 |
| 2023 | -11 |
| 2022 | +44 |
| 2021 | +2 |
The Contracting Sector
Confidence Index
| Medical Locum | |
| 2025 | +4 |
| 2024 | +5 |
| 2023 | -3 |
| 2022 | +13 |
| 2021 | +25 |
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