"I am interested in learning about the job prospects for education. I think it is a field that a lot of my peers are going into. I was always told that there was an overabundance of teachers but everyone I know has been able to find jobs. Any info would be appreciated!!!"
The field of education is one of the largest professions in the U.S., with over three million teachers employed. Overall, this occupation will grow about as fast as the average for all occupations to the year 2006. However, the supply of teachers is expected to increase, as evidenced by the steady rise in Bachelor's and Master's level Education graduates.
You can maximize your chance of becoming employed as a teacher by learning about the following issues:
Grade Level - Employment of Secondary School teachers is growing faster than opportunities for Elementary level teachers. Population demographics through the year 2006 show that high school enrollments will increase steadily, while the number of elementary school students will rise through 2002, then decrease.
Location - Although teachers work throughout the country in about the same distribution as the general population, certain settings consistently have a higher demand for teachers than others. It isn't surprising that these tend to be areas with the greatest challenges, and hence, areas that have the greatest difficulty finding qualified teachers.
Job prospects will generally be good in rural areas, where teachers work in relatively remote locations, and sometimes at lower salaries. And inner city schools often have difficulty attracting enough teachers due to crime, poverty, and overcrowded conditions (remember the film Dangerous Minds?). Teachers who are geographically mobile have a distinct advantage in finding a job.
Specialty Areas - Certain subject areas will be in demand, while others already have an overabundance of qualified teachers:
Specialties In Demand:
- Mathematics
- Science, especially chemistry and physics
- Bilingual education, minority teachers, and those who speak English as a second language (ESL)
- Computer Science
- Special Education
- Montessori-certified teachers
- Adult Education teachers, especially part-time positions
Saturated Specialties:
- Elementary Education
- English
- Art
- Physical Education
- Social Studies
Marquita Meyer is an educator with 20 years experience teaching elementary school students as well as a Montessori kindergarten class. Marquita offers the following valuable comments about the qualities a future teacher should cultivate:
- Have a commitment to children and their learning. Realize that many hours are spent before and after school in addition to classtime.
- Be able to demonstrate above-average instructional skills. Prepare a video of yourself teaching a lesson.
- Have a good foundation in a variety of teaching strategies and curriculums.
