GOC launches 2022 Registrant Workforce and Perceptions Survey

The General Optical Council (GOC) has today launched its Registrant Workforce and Perceptions Survey to gain valuable insights into the optometry and dispensing professions and improve the way it regulates.

The survey is open to optometrists, dispensing opticians and students and this year, the GOC is particularly interested in collecting more workforce data on the challenges and opportunities faced in daily clinical roles, including job satisfaction levels, potential pressures at work, and career development plans. There will also be an opportunity to give feedback on how well the GOC is performing as a regulator and its new Continuing Professional Development (CPD) scheme.

Marcus Dye, GOC Acting Director of Regulatory Strategy, said: “Last year’s survey findings were useful in helping us to better understand how registrants feel about their job and career. We found that dispensing opticians (60%) were slightly more satisfied with their job compared to optometrists (57%), and a larger proportion of optometrists (45%) said that they planned to gain additional qualifications compared to dispensing opticians (33%).

This year’s survey will help us to assess whether job satisfaction levels and career aspirations have changed. It will also provide vital data for optical sector bodies for purposes such as future workforce planning, an important consideration to ensure that the professions continue to meet the needs of UK eyecare provision going forward.

We want to ensure that the report is representative of optometrists and dispensing opticians across the whole of the UK and so, I encourage all student and fully qualified registrants to take part so we can hear about your views and experiences.”

The survey is being run by an independent company, Enventure Research. This is to ensure that all responses remain confidential. The survey will take 8-10 minutes and there is a prize draw to win a £100 online gift card as a thank you for taking part.

The closing date for the survey is 26 April 2022.

Visit and take part in the 2022 Registrant Workforce and Perceptions Survey.