Perceptions of K-12 public school administrators of the supply and demand for educators in the Great Lakes region of the United States

This study describes the perceptions of K-12 public school administrators of the supply and demand for 50 teaching fields in Region 7 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin) of the American Association for Employment in Education (formerly the Association for School, College, and University Staffing). The study reviews the literature examining issues of supply and demand: teacher salaries, student enrollment, student demographics, geography, government mandates, numbers of teachers and counselors in the work force, teacher and school counselor demographics, supply of newly graduated teachers and school counselors, certification, reserve pool, attrition, and education reform. Surveys were sent to 2,927 public school administrators, with 1,298 being returned. Data tables highlight educator supply and demand by (a) teaching field, grouping teaching fields by surplus and shortage, availability of employment opportunities; and (b) factors impacting the number of new educators to be hired in 1997-98, including funding, retirements, government mandates, demographics, student enrollment, private or home schooling, class size, military mobilization, and sources of new hires. The study concludes that employment opportunities for educators were influenced by early retirement, student enrollment, routine retirement, shift of students, and mobility of new graduates. Educator fields with a perceived excess supply were elementary, social studies, physical and health education, and English/language arts. School Counselors of all levels were in slight shortage for Region 7. Compared to the perceptions of the market for educators during the 1996-97 school year, the market was perceived to be better four years earlier (1992-93 school year) and perceived to be improving for the approaching year (1997-98 school year).