Women and Pharmacy Startups
Women Pharmacist Ownership On The Rise
When it comes to Pharmacy ownership, there exists a significant "gender gap" between female pharmacists and their male counterparts. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) most recent numbers from 2016, women pharmacists now comprise over 57% of all the registered pharmacist positions across the US. So now, not only are well over one-half of all pharmacy students women, for the past several years the number of female pharmacists practicing pharmacy has actually outnumbered the number of male pharmacists practicing in the profession. It is significant to also note that this trend will only increase in the foreseeable future, as female pharmacy graduates dominated their male counterparts by a staggering 61% to 39% in 2015-16 as reported by the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) release of their Academic Pharmacy's Vital Statistics. Lastly, add in the fact that Forbes listed pharmacy as the second best paying job for women in their 2017 list, and the trend is clearly seen: Women are starting to dominate the pharmacy profession regarding jobs.
Currently There Are Fewer Female Pharmacy Owners
So why is there such a large discrepancy in the number of female pharmacists owning pharmacies? Although this "gender gap" is slowly closing, statistics show that in 2009 almost 12% of all male pharmacists were owners or partners in a pharmacy business, as compared to only around 8% of women pharmacists being an owner or partner in a pharmacy practice. Many point out the fact that way back in 2004 the disparity was much more apparent, with a comparative ownership of 10% for male pharmacists and only 2% for women. Yet the NCPA (National Community Pharmacist Association) still reports that as few as 20% of its membership is comprised of female pharmacy owners.
The Future
Many experts predict that it is just a matter of time before the female ownership of pharmacies catches up to their male counterparts. Statistics by the Pharmacy Manpower Project released previously point out the fact that over 37% of practicing pharmacists are older than 55 years of age. As the older male pharmacy owners retire, it seems very likely to most that any void created will quickly be filled by the increased population of entrepreneurial female pharmacists that are starting to rise in numbers across the United States.If you are a female pharmacist and are considering a pharmacy start-up venture or purchasing an existing pharmacy operation, talk to us here at HCC. With over 27 years in the business, HealthCare Consultants is perhaps the most experienced national pharmacy consulting firm in regards to purchasing, starting, moving and expanding pharmacies throughout the US. Healthcare Consultants Pharmacy Staffing has helped hundreds of satisfied pharmacists become pharmacy owners in almost every state. This includes the start-up and opening of independent retail pharmacies, specialty pharmacies, mail-order pharmacies, compounding pharmacies and institutional pharmacies.We offer you the support of an experienced staff who have been through the process many times and know the business inside and out! Whether you are a seasoned business professional with experience opening new pharmacies or simply considering a pharmacy venture as a new experience as a business investment, Healthcare Consultants Pharmacy Staffing can help you. With over 27 years experience, we have helped hundreds of business owners (pharmacists and non-pharmacists) establish and start new successful pharmacy practices. Contact us online or call us today at 800-642-1652 for a Free Consultation to discuss how we can help you.