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Original Article
- Korean occupational and environmental medicine specialists: demand-supply projections
- Hee-Tae Kang, Hye-Eun Lee, Mo-Yeol Kang, Chungwon Kang, Kyong sok Shin, Hyeon-Taek Heo, Yong Lim Won, Jungwon Kim
- Ann Occup Environ Med 2026;e34. Published online July 27, 2026
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2026.38.e34 [Accepted]
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Abstract
PDF - Background
Korea has experienced changes in the balance between the demand for and supply of occupational and environmental medicine (OEM) specialists due to recent policy and environmental shifts. This study projected demand and supply for these specialists for 2025–2035, focusing on those working in special health examination institutions and occupational health management agencies.
Methods
Demand was estimated by applying 2024 average workloads per OEM specialist to projected volumes of special health examinations and outsourced occupational health management for 2025–2035 under four scenarios that varied growth in outsourced management and the share of OEM specialists among participating physicians. Supply was projected using registration and official statistics for 1,010 specialists certified by 2025, combined with detailed residency cohort data, assumptions on future quotas, completion, and age at certification, and age-specific proportions working in the two institution types.
Results
Average workloads in 2024 were 4,793 workers per OEM specialist for special health examinations and 9,193 workers per physician for outsourced occupational health management. The number of OEM specialists younger than 90 years is projected to increase from 968 in 2025 to 1,244 in 2035, with those working in the two institution types increasing from 697 to 910. Depending on the scenario, demand in 2035 ranges from 838 to 943 specialists, with supply exceeding demand in three scenarios but remaining 33 specialists short in the most expansionary scenario.
Conclusions
Short‑term shortages of OEM specialists are likely but remain highly manageable, after which surplus capacity is expected. Policy efforts should therefore stabilize OEM residency pipelines and prepare institutional mechanisms to deploy surplus specialists beyond special health examinations and outsourced occupational health management.
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Original Article
- Current status and demand projections for occupational and environmental medicine specialists: focus on special health examinations and outsourced occupational health management services
- Hye-Eun Lee, Hee-Tae Kang, Mo-Yeol Kang, Chungwon Kang, Kyong Sok Shin, Hyeon-Taek Heo, Yong Lim Won, Jungwon Kim
- Ann Occup Environ Med 2026;38:e23. Published online July 1, 2026
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/aoem.2026.38.e23
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Abstract
Abstract in Korean
PDF
Supplementary Material - Background
Occupational and environmental medicine (OEM) specialists are key personnel within the occupational health system. Recent developments, such as the introduction of the Serious Accidents Punishment Act and the expansion of occupational health policies targeting vulnerable workers, have highlighted the need to broaden the role of OEM specialists. This study analyzed the current workload of OEM specialists and projected their medium- to long-term demand.
Methods
The demand for OEM specialists was defined as the actual observed service utilization volume under the current legal, institutional, and policy environment. Key work areas were categorized as special health examinations and outsourced occupational health management services. Data sources included administrative records from the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) and the Ministry of Employment and Labor (MoEL), statistics on worker health examination results, and evaluation data from specialized agencies for occupational health management. Demand through 2035 was projected by applying the observed historical growth trend in service utilization. The required number of specialists was calculated by applying the average workload per specialist in the base year.
Results
As of 2025, 577 OEM specialists were working at 255 special health examination institutions. Among the 153 occupational health management agencies, 265 physicians were employed, including 133 OEM specialists. The number of workers requiring services from OEM specialists is predicted to continue growing. Applying the current average workload per physician, an additional 132 special health examination physicians and 92 occupational health management agency physicians will be needed by 2035.
Conclusions
Actual workforce demand may differ from the projections presented in this study depending on changes in policies, industrial structure, service delivery models, and work efficiency. Future studies should incorporate need-based estimates that reflect the diverse roles of OEM specialists and use integrated workforce data to provide more refined projections. - 한국의 직업환경의학과 전문의 현황과 수요 추계 – 특수건강진단과 보건관리위탁을 중심으로
연구 배경: 직업환경의학과 전문의는 산업보건 체계에서 핵심적인 역할을 수행하는 인력으로, 그 수요와 역할은 산업안전보건 관련 법·제도와 정책 환경에 의해 크게 영향을 받는다. 최근 중대재해처벌법 도입과 취약노동자 대상 산업보건정책 확대에 따라 직업환경의학과 전문의의 역할 확장 필요성이 제기되고 있다. 본 연구는 직업환경의학과 전문의의 업무 현황을 분석하고 중장기 수요를 추계하고자 하였다.
연구 방법: 직업환경의학과 전문의 수요를 현행 법·제도 하에서 실제 관찰되는 서비스 이용량에 기반한 요구(demand)로 정의하였다. 주요 업무 영역을 특수건강진단과 보건관리전문기관 위탁업무로 구분하고, 산업안전보건공단 및 고용노동부 행정자료, 근로자건강진단 통계, 보건관리전문기관 평가자료 등을 활용하였다. 과거 서비스 이용량 증가 추세를 적용하여 특수건강진단과 보건관리위탁의2035년까지의 수요를 추계하고, 기준 연도의 전문의 1인당 평균 업무량을 적용하여 필요 인력을 산출하였다.
연구 결과: 2025년 기준 특수건강진단기관 255개소에 직업환경의학과 전문의 577명이 근무하고 있었으며, 보건관리전문기관 153개소에는 의사 265명이 근무하고 있었고 이 중 133명이 직업환경의학과 전문의였다. 수요 추계 결과, 현재의 전문의 1인당 평균 업무량을 적용할 경우 2035년에는 특수건강진단 분야에서 132명, 보건관리전문기관 분야에서 92명의 추가 인력이 필요한 것으로 추계되었다.
결론
정책의 변화, 산업 구조 변화, 서비스 제공 방식 및 업무 효율성의 변화에 따라 실제 인력 수요는 본 연구의 추계와 달라질 수 있다. 향후에는 다양한 역할을 포함한 필요 기반 추계와 통합적인 인력 데이터 구축을 바탕으로 보다 정교한 수요 예측 연구가 필요하다.
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