The National Teacher Shortage

How to find an in-demand teaching job during the nation's teacher shortage

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Across the country, severe teacher shortages, especially in small towns and urban areas, have resulted in a compromised public school education system. Teachers with emergency or out-of-field credentials are commonplace in schools due to the teacher shortage. Nearly half of public school teachers have neither a college major nor a minor in their primary field.

Due to growing student enrollments, high turnover rates and escalating teacher retirements, education and policy experts estimate the teacher shortage will create a higher than average number of openings for teachers in the nation's elementary and secondary schools. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that between 2006 and 2016 the nation will need to hire nearly half a million additional teachers.

Special Certification Options Due to the Teacher Shortage

Because of the teacher shortage in specific high-need areas, you may be able to get a temporary per diem teaching certificate if you have pertinent education and/or job experience in a subject area. This will allow you to start teaching while gradually taking classes toward your permanent teacher certification. For more information on emergency and provisional teacher certificates, see our teaching certification article.

If you would like to take advantage of the teacher shortage and find a teaching job in a high demand field, check the U.S. Department of Education's 2009-10 Teacher Shortage Area Nationwide Listing. You can also check with your state's Department of Education to find out whether teacher shortages have opened up any possibilities for you to teach, and what emergency licensing options they might have for you.

Subject Areas Most Affected by the Teacher Shortage

While different states report widely differing needs, there are some clear commonalities among the specialties most needed today. The national teacher shortage has created the severest demand for the positions listed below:

• Bilingual / ESL teachers
• Foreign language teachers
• Special education teachers
• Mathematics teachers
• Science teachers
• Urban and rural school teachers

Specialties that currently have an adequate number of qualified teachers in most areas include general elementary education, physical education, history and social studies. If you are interested in one of those fields, you may want to obtain licensure in more than one subject to gain a distinct advantage in finding a job.

For ideas and inspiration to help you find a teaching job that is not in special demand, see our interview with a recently hired history teacher in the Chicago area.

Make the Most of the Teacher Shortage

Because of the great push to find qualified teachers in the highest need areas, some school districts are offering unheard of teacher perks and benefits to lure potential teachers in the door. Higher paychecks, signing bonuses, housing assistance, paid-for moving expenses, on-site childcare and continuing education courses are all offered in different locations throughout the country. Some districts have made hiring easier by streamlining interviewing processes and even relaxing residency rules to secure more candidates. All of this is additional to the already significant benefits offered to public school teachers nationwide, including comprehensive health and dental insurance, life insurance and pension plans. For more information on the common benefits of a teaching career, see our "Top Ten Teaching Perks" article.