Australia could soon be facing a pharmacist shortage as low pay, ballooning workloads and poor career progression drive workers out of the field in droves, according to industry representatives and university researchers. Professional Pharmacists Australia, a union representing pharmacy workers, has raised concerns about the sustainability of the industry after new data revealed pharmacy graduates are the lowest paid in Australia, with a starting salary of just $49,600. "Pharmacists are pretty poorly paid, graduates the worst of the lot," PPA president Geoff March said, adding there "seems to be a trend" of people exiting the industry. "The level of dissatisfaction in the profession is extremely high. I've been a pharmacist for over 40 years - I don't think I've seen it worse."