Research for the Department of Health and Aged Care reports everything you suspected is true.

How many: there are 39,000 health and medical researchers. 65% work in universities and research institutes, 33% in “non-traditional” roles (private sector, clinical space)  and the rest are in both.

Plus the departed: There are 20,000 or so ex-HMRs, 30% are in the public sector, 20% in universities “possibly in non-research capacities.” Most inactive researchers are in healthcare and social assistance (31%) or PST services (27%). Over five years 47% of post doc fellows who change jobs leave research.