Those looking to become teachers in the Northeast may wish to explore the employment outlook for teachers in the region before settling on a state in which to become certified to teach. The Northeast includes New England states like Massachusetts and Maine, as well as the populous states along the Atlantic Ocean of New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
Employment Outlook for Kindergarten & Elementary School Teachers
The government divides data for teachers when recording statistics like job density, average wages, and the industries where jobs are most commonly found. For elementary school teachers, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reveals that most states in the Northeast are in the middle when it comes to how many jobs are available per 1,000 residents.
For example, Pennsylvania has 9.05 openings for teachers for every 1,000 residents. Connecticut has a slightly higher employment density with 10.78 jobs per 1,000 residents. Although states like New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey have some of the highest populations of teachers in the nation, those numbers stem from high populations and dense urban areas.
Nationally, the BLS reports that kindergarten and elementary school teachers may expect 7% job growth over the next decade. Since job openings for most of the states across the Northeast match the nationwide average, future kindergarten and elementary school teachers may expect that some of the 116,300 jobs believed to be created over the next decade will open in schools across the Northeast.
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Employment Outlook for High School Teachers in the Northeast
According to BLS statistics on high school teachers, the rate of job growth nationwide will reach slightly higher for high school teachers than kindergarten and elementary school teachers. Around 8% growth is expected over the next decade with around 76,800 openings nationwide. These numbers may change over time, but they indicate positive employment outlook for teachers across the country.
Further data from the BLS and its statistics on high school teachers reveals that Maine and Connecticut have higher-than-average density for high school teachers per 1,000 residents. Maine has 9.83 high school teachers per 1,000 residents, and Connecticut has 8.94 teachers per 1,000 residents.
The lower density of teachers in nearby states like New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire may mean getting a job in those states would be easier than in the states with higher high school teacher density. Most of the current employment statistics regarding high school teachers in the Northeast aren’t too different from those found nationwide so that future teachers may expect average job growth in line with nationwide projections from the BLS.
Finding Teacher Shortages to Help Accelerate Hiring
The Department of Education provides helpful information on teacher shortages in each state. Selecting a subject to teach that is in high demand may help a teacher find work quickly in the Northeast. For example, Maine current needs teachers in special education and technology. New Hampshire has a need for music, physical science, and special education teachers.
Expected job growth for teachers in the Northeast is positive, but it isn’t so high that it exceeds the average growth expected for all professions. Future educators who wish to teach in the Northeast will find comfort in the positive employment outlook for teachers over the next decade, but it may behoove a teacher to specialize in a subject where there is a great need for new teachers.
