Statistics

2024 Health Manpower Survey on Chiropractors

Key Findings

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The chiropractors covered in the 2024 Health Manpower Survey on Chiropractors (HMS-CHIRO) were chiropractors registered with the Chiropractors Council under the Chiropractors Registration Ordinance (Chapter 428) as at the survey reference date of 30 September 2024.

The number of chiropractors covered was 329.

Of the 329 chiropractors covered, 177 responded to the survey, including 57 (32.2%) who submitted their responses through the online platform and 120 (67.8%) who submitted by post, giving an overall response rate of 53.8%. Among the 177 responding chiropractors, 148 (83.6%) were active^†‡ and 29 (16.4%) were inactive^†§ as at the survey reference date of 30 September 2024(See Chart).

Of the 148 active chiropractors enumerated, 145 (98.0%) were practising in the local chiropractic profession, two (1.4%) were seeking jobs in the local chiropractic profession and one (0.7%) reported that he/she was available for work but had not sought work during the 30 days before the survey reference date as he/she was waiting to take up a new job in the chiropractic profession.

The survey results presented in this section were based on the information provided by 145 responding chiropractors who were practising in the local chiropractic profession as at the survey reference date of 30 September 2024 (hereafter referred to as “active local chiropractors”). The percentages present below may not add up to 100% due to missing responses or rounding.

(i)  Of the 145 active local chiropractors enumerated, there were 97 (66.9%) male and 44 (30.3%) female. The remaining four (2.8%) respondents did not indicate their gender. Among the 141 respondents who indicated their gender, the overall sex ratio (males per 100 females) was 221. The median age of the 144 active local chiropractors enumerated who reported their age was 40.0 years. Among 141 responding chiropractors with known age and gender, the median age of females and males was 37.0 years and 41.0 years respectively.

(ii)  The respondents were requested to indicate the characteristics of their main jobs^║. Among the 145 active local chiropractors enumerated, 143 (98.6%) reported that their main jobs were in the private sector. Among them, 84 (58.7%) were in group practice and the remaining 59 (41.3%) were in solo practice.

(iii)  Respondents were asked to indicate the time spent on different fields of practice. The primary field of practice is defined as the field in which they spent most of their working time. Of the 145 active local chiropractors enumerated, 139 (95.9%) worked in service in chiropractic and one (0.7%) in administration/ management as the primary field of practice. One (0.7%) did not indicate his/her field of practice.

(iv)  Among the 145 active local chiropractors enumerated who reported their weekly working hours, the median number of hours of work per week (excluding meal breaks) was 40.0 hours. Among the 145 respondents, 23 (15.9%) were required to undertake on-call duty, with a median of 5.0 hours of on-call duty per week (excluding normal duty).

†	In the survey, the criteria used in defining economically active/inactive followed those recommended by the International Labour Organization, which are also being used by the Census and Statistics Department in Hong Kong.
‡	Economically active (“active”) chiropractors included all “employed” and “unemployed” chiropractors. “Employed” chiropractors referred to those chiropractors practising in the chiropractic profession in Hong Kong as at the survey reference date; and“Unemployed” chiropractors referred to those who (i) were not practising in the local chiropractic profession as at the survey reference date; (ii) had been available for work during the seven days before the survey reference date; AND (iii) had sought work in the local chiropractic profession during the 30 days before the survey reference date. The respondent would be classified as “unemployed” if he/she had sought work in the local chiropractic profession but had not been available for work because of temporary sickness. The respondent would be classified as “unemployed” if he/she fulfilled conditions (i) and (ii) but had not sought work during the 30 days before enumeration because he/she believed that work was not available; had made arrangements to take up a new job; was starting business on a subsequent date; or was expecting to return to the original job in the local chiropractic profession.
§	Economically inactive (“inactive”) chiropractors referred to the responding chiropractors who were not practising in the chiropractic profession in Hong Kong as at the survey reference date, excluding those who were on leave and who were “economically active” but “unemployed”.
‖	Main jobs referred to the jobs in which the chiropractors had spent most of their working time.

Of the 29 inactive chiropractors enumerated(See Chart):

(i)  Six (20.7%) reported not seeking jobs in the local chiropractic profession during the 30 days before the survey reference date. Among those six inactive chiropractors, the reasons for not seeking jobs in the local chiropractic profession included: two (33.3%) had retired, two (33.3%) were engaged in household duties, one (16.7%) wanted to take a rest/had no motive to work/had no financial need, and one (16.7%) was due to other reasons.

(ii)  19 (65.5%) reported practising overseas, two (6.9%) reported practising in other areas of the Mainland and two (6.9%) were not available for work.

Notes:	*	Figure refers to the number of chiropractors who had registered with the Chiropractors Council under the Chiropractors Registration Ordinance (Chapter 428) as at the survey reference date of 30 September 2024.
	†	Figure refers to the number of responding chiropractors who (a) were not practising in the chiropractic profession in Hong Kong as at the survey reference date; (b) had been available for work in the local chiropractic profession during the seven days before the survey reference date; AND (c) had sought work in the local chiropractic profession during the 30 days before the survey reference date.
	§	Figure refers to the number of responding chiropractors who were not available for work in the local chiropractic profession during the seven days before the survey reference date.
	‖	Figure refers to the number of responding chiropractors who reported not seeking work in the local chiropractic profession during the 30 days before the survey reference date due to other reasons.
	Percentages may not add up to 100% due to rounding.