The pharmacist shortage could get worse in the next decade as more men put down their spatulas in favor of retirement and more men and women opt for part-time work, according to a study commissioned by the Pharmacy Manpower Project.

The profession's male-female balance continues to tip toward women, who accounted for 46% of practicing pharmacists in 2004, according to the 2004 National Pharmacist Workforce Study conducted by the Midwest Pharmacy Workforce Research Consortium. The survey of 1,470 practicing pharmacists found that 42% of the women are aged 39 and younger, compared with 41% of male pharmacists aged 55 and older.

In addition to the graying of the male cohort into retirement age, about 30% of all actively practicing R.Ph.s worked part-time in 2004. Nearly 27% of women and 15% of men opted for 30 hours or less per week. About 30% of women between the ages of 31 and 50 work part-time, while about 46% of men age 60 or older put in part-time hours.

Nearly half of pharmacists reported that their workload was high. Inadequate staffing and interruptions were the biggest stress producers, especially for chain, mass-merchandiser, and hospital pharmacists.

One indicator that did move upward was hourly wages. The nominal wage growth between 2000 and 2004 was 38% for both full-time and part-time pharmacists. But in 2004, men working full-time averaged $45.56, compared with $43.47 for women.