Student enrollment has been increasing and is expected to continue to increase, according to the United States Department of Labor (DOL). As a result, the employment of kindergarten and elementary school teachers is expected to grow 17 percent between 2010 and 2021 according to the DOL's Occupational Outlook Handbook. Laws and policies have exacerbated the need for teachers as well. Class-size reduction policies require the hiring of more teachers, and the federal requirement that teachers be highly qualified and effective leaves gaps in the availability of teachers, particularly between high- and low-poverty schools states the Center for Public Education.
While there has been a corresponding increase in the number of teachers entering the field, Teach.com reports a shortage of teachers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) courses. There is a geographic component to this. According to the Education Commission of the States, it is in high-poverty, high-minority, urban and rural public schools where teachers experienced in math and science are particularly needed. Teach.com further states that the increased enrollment of non-English speaking students has created a shortage of teachers certified to teach English as a Second Language (ESL).
The exiting of teachers from the field also affects the shortage. Teachers retire, and the increasing median age makes this problematic. According to a 2009 report by the National Commission on Teaching & America’s Future, the median age of teachers in 2003-2004 ranged from 40.5 years in Kentucky to 49 years in West Virginia. Teachers also leave prior to retirement age. A survey by the National Center for Education found that 40% of teachers are dissatisfied with their status in the community and 33% don’t expect to be teaching in five years.
According to a 2011 MetLife survey of American Teachers, only 44% of teachers are satisfied with their jobs. Factors contributing to job dissatisfaction include lack of parent involvement, reduction of programs and services, increase in class sizes, low salaries and urban challenges. While they may experience job dissatisfaction, teachers are generally content. Perhaps more people would become teachers if they were aware of the findings reported by Gallup that teaching might be one of the best careers for a person’s well-being. According to this report, teachers rate their lives highly, are in great emotional health and are generally quite happy.