ISSN: 221-215X Labur Market Research - Schl Teachers Australia 214-15 Occupatins in cluster 1 Rating* 2411-11 Early Childhd (Pre-primary Schl) Teacher N Shrtage 2 2412-13 Primary Schl Teacher N Shrtage 2414-11 Secndary Schl Teacher N Shrtage 2415 Special Educatin Teacher N Shrtage * Ratings based n research undertaken between January and April 215. Years in shrtage (n.) five years t 214-15 Since the last research was undertaken by the Department f Emplyment int the teacher labur market in early 214, a number f natinal reprts have been released which enhance the availability f relevant data. The Australian Gvernment, thrugh the Teacher Quality Natinal Partnership, has released the Natinal Teaching Wrkfrce Dataset reprts, which make a significant cntributin t the imprvement f natinally cnsistent data. 2 The Australian Cuncil fr Educatin Research (ACER) has released The Teacher wrkfrce in Australia: Supply, demand and data issues. 3 The research undertaken as part f the Department f Emplyment s nging Skill Shrtage Research (n which the key pints in this reprt are based), prvides an additinal perspective n the labur market fr teachers. It analyses the results f a Survey f Emplyers wh have Recently Advertised (SERA) fr schl teachers acrss fur specialisatins: early childhd; primary; secndary; and special needs. 4 The survey size is small relative t the size f the teacher wrkfrce, with arund 5 vacancies included, but it presents a valuable picture (especially when assessing results ver time) f the supply and demand fr teachers. The research cvers teacher vacancies acrss the spectrum f emplyment sectrs, including gvernment, Cathlic and independent schls as well as the child care sectr. 5 Cnsultatin with sme state and territry gvernment educatin authrities was als undertaken and their input is reflected in this reprt. 1 Mre detailed infrmatin fr each ccupatin is included in the Appendices (click n the title t g t the relevant Appendix). 2 Australian Gvernment, Natinal Teaching Wrkfrce Dataset Prject Reprt and Natinal Teaching Wrkfrce Dataset Data Analysis Reprt, June 214 3 ACER, The Teacher wrkfrce in Australia: Supply, demand and data issues, March 215 4 The labur market fr Vcatinal Educatin Teachers is separately assessed, with the reprt published at http://dcs.emplyment.gv.au/nde/3391 5 The majrity f surveyed vacancies were in the nn-gvernment sectr. A number f state and territry gvernment educatin authrities fill psitins frm applicant registers, and vacancies are nt separately advertised. Department f Emplyment Page 1
Key findings Schl teacher vacancies have been amng the easiest t fill fr a number f years and shrtages are nt apparent. 6 In 214-15, 92 per cent f schl teacher vacancies were filled (the highest prprtin f any assessed ccupatinal cluster), and there were multiple suitable applicants (3.2, n average, per vacancy), althugh verall candidate fields are slightly smaller than the average acrss all assessed prfessins (Figure 1). Figure 1: Prprtin f vacancies filled (%), average number f applicants and suitable applicants per vacancy (n.), Schl Teachers, Australia, 27-8 t 214-15 1 9 8 7 6 (%) 5 4 3 2 1 Applicants per vacancy - RHS Suitable applicants per vacancy - RHS Prprtin f vacancies filled - LHS 3 87% 89% 92% 84% 86% 88% 84% 83% 27 8.1 2.7 12. 11.6 3.9 12.3 1.5 1.1 13.2 12.8 2.9 2.8 2.6 2.8 2.5 3.2 27-8 28-9 29-1 21-11 211-12 212-13 213-14 214-15 24 21 18 15(n.) 12 9 6 3 Surce: Department f Emplyment, Survey f Emplyers wh have Recently Advertised Significant, widespread shrtages are nt evident fr any teaching ccupatin, althugh in sme lcatins and fr sme teaching specialisatins there are ccasinal recruitment prblems. Emplyers wh experience difficulty recruiting are generally thse in the child care sectr wh require early childhd teachers, emplyers seeking special needs teachers with specific qualificatins and thse in particular reginal lcatins, especially fr specific subject cmbinatins. In New Suth Wales, at March 214, there were mre than 44, persns seeking permanent emplyment as a teacher in the public schl system, with graduates and ther candidates adding t the applicant list. This included arund 25,4 primary schl teachers and 18,9 secndary schl teachers. 7 Media articles suggest that the Suth Australian state schl system hired just ne third f new graduate teachers in 215. 8 Graduate Careers Australia (GCA) figures shw that teaching graduates face sme difficulty gaining initial emplyment. 9 6 Relates t ccupatinal clusters assessed as part f the Department f Emplyment s Skill Shrtage Research Prgramme. 7 NSW Educatin and Cmmunities, 214 Teaching Wrkfrce, Supply and Demand, Schl teachers in NSW public schls 8 The Weekend Australian, Teaching snub signals future shrtage, 29-3 August 215 9 GCA, Graduate Destinatins Survey, 214 Department f Emplyment Page 2
Survey results The Natinal Teaching Wrkfrce Dataset Prject Reprt 1 ntes There is much anecdtal evidence f shrtages f STEM (Science, Technlgy, Engineering and Mathematics) teachers; shrtages f secndary teachers; and an excess f primary teachers. In 214-15, the Department f Emplyment s discussins with cntacts had an increased fcus n identifying secndary schl subject areas fr which recruitment is ntably difficult. This wrk did nt present any real evidence f significant numbers f vacancies remaining unfilled r f emplyers cmprmising t recruit teachers in STEM specialisatins. The research did, thugh, cnfirm that there are particularly large numbers f applicants and suitable applicants vying fr primary schl teacher vacancies. Candidate fields fr teacher vacancies are small relative t thse fr the prfessins verall and applicant numbers have nt changed markedly ver recent years. 11 There were 12.8 applicants, n average, per teacher vacancy in 214-15 cmpared with 15.8 acrss all surveyed prfessins. This cmpares with an average f 12. applicants fr teacher vacancies in 28-9 when there were 7.7 applicants fr prfessins verall. Mst applicants held relevant qualificatins and emplyers filled the vast majrity f their vacancies withut significant difficulty. On a natinal basis, this was the case regardless f specialisatin and sectr. Arund 92 per cent f surveyed vacancies were filled within six weeks f advertising, up frm 84 per cent five years earlier. The prprtin f vacancies filled has been relatively high each year since the series began. Thse state gvernment educatin authrities cntacted as part f the research cnfirmed that they generally have adequate supplies f schl teachers. Mst maintain lists f teachers seeking emplyment. Only a small prprtin f vacancies remained unfilled six weeks after advertising, and these typically attracted a pr respnse. Arund 2 per cent f emplyers did nt receive any applicatins fr their surveyed vacancies and a further 5 per cent did nt attract any applicants they cnsidered t be suitable. Unfilled vacancies were slightly mre likely t be lcated in reginal areas (87 per cent f reginal vacancies were filled cmpared with 94 per cent f metrplitan vacancies). Reginal vacancies generally attracted fewer applicants than thse in metrplitan areas (an average f 8.8 per vacancy cmpared with 15.1) and fewer applicants were cnsidered t be suitable (2.4 cmpared with 3.6). State gvernment educatin authrities als suggest that vacancies in sme reginal and rural areas can be mre difficult t fill. Demand and supply trends Emplyment ABS Schls data n teaching staff at primary and secndary schling levels in 214 shw that 12 1 Australian Gvernment, Natinal Teaching Wrkfrce Dataset Prject Reprt, June 214 11 Department f Emplyment, Skill Shrtage Research 12 ABS, Schls, 214 (Census f all primary and secndary schls) Department f Emplyment Page 3
there were 138,6 full-time equivalent teachers in primary schls and 125,4 in secndary schls arund 64 per cent f teachers were in gvernment schls, 19 per cent in Cathlic schls and 17 per cent in independent schls. Grwth in the emplyment f schl teachers ver the ten years t May 215 has been n par with that fr the Australian labur market verall (arund 19. per cent). 13 All schl teacher ccupatins recrded increases ver this time, with particularly strng grwth fr early childhd teachers driven, at least in part, by the intrductin f the Natinal Quality Framewrk. Sme cncern has been raised abut the prevalence f teachers in rles fr which they d nt have an academic backgrund (such as, a particular subject r special educatin). 14 Data n the extent f ut-f-field teaching at secndary schls and special needs teaching in primary schls are available frm the Staff in Australia s Schls (SiAS) survey, which indicates that 15 the extent f ut-f-field teaching drpped between the 21 and 213 surveys but remains relatively high fr sme subjects. Jb pprtunities ABS data shw turnver f schl teachers is much lwer than the average fr all ccupatins. Annually, 7.5 per cent f schl teachers leave their ccupatin grup (creating ptential jb penings) cmpared with 11.4 per cent acrss all ccupatins. 16 Given the size f the teaching labur market, hwever, the number f jb pprtunities frm replacement demand is relatively large. The SiAS als cntains sme insights int mbility within the teaching prfessins. 17 Arund 13 per cent f primary schl teachers and 15 per cent f secndary schl teachers had previusly resigned frm teaching at sme stage in their career. Almst 1 per cent f primary schl teachers and arund 8 per cent f secndary schl teachers intend t apply fr a principal r deputy/vice principal psitin in the next three years. The prprtin f schl teachers aged 45 years r lder is slightly higher than the all ccupatins average (44 per cent cmpared with 39 per cent) but there are marked differences by teaching prfessin. 18 In particular, early childhd teachers are mre likely t be yunger (aged 15 t 24 years) and special educatin teachers are mre likely t be mature aged wrkers (45 years r lder) cmpared with the ther ccupatins in this cluster. 13 ABS, Labur Frce, May 215. Data are fr ttal emplyment 14 ACER, The Teacher wrkfrce in Australia: Supply, demand and data issues, March 215 15 ACER, Staff in Australia s Schls 213: Main reprt n the survey, April 214 and ACER, Prfiles f Teachers in Selected Curriculum Areas: Further analysis f the Staff in Australia s Schls 213 Survey, May 214 16 ABS, Labur Mbility, February 213 17 ACER, Staff in Australia s Schls 213: Main reprt n the survey, April 214 18 ABS, Labur Frce, 214 annual average Department f Emplyment Page 4
The age prfile f teachers suggests that a large number f psitins will becme available in the next decade as a result f the retirement f teachers. The New Suth Wales Gvernment, thugh, estimates that retirement rates will be between 3 and 4 per cent per annum between 214 and 22. 19 Training trends Higher educatin data shw an increase in the number f students undertaking training intended fr initial registratin as a teacher ver the last decade. 2 In 214, there were 29,3 dmestic student cmmencements and 17,7 cmpletins frm such curses. The number f cmmencements increased by 34.5 per cent ver the ten years t 214, while the number f cmpletins rse by 14.5 per cent. An nging cncern raised in the media is the large number f students enrlling in teaching degrees with a lw Australian Tertiary Admissin Rank and a crrespnding fall in the number f high achieving schl leavers chsing teaching as their prfessin. 21 A natinal Literacy and Numeracy Test fr student teachers will be intrduced frm 216. 22 Graduate utcmes GCA data indicate that emplyment utcmes fr thse wh have undertaken initial teaching curses at the bachelr degree level have weakened markedly ver the last cuple f years. 23 In 214, 7. per cent f graduates available fr full-time emplyment secured a full-time psitin shrtly after graduatin, dwn by 9.6 percentage pints cmpared with ten years earlier. Emplyment utcmes are the lwest since the mid-199s (63.1 per cent in 1994). The GCA data, thugh, shw that thse wh d find full-time emplyment are generally wrking as educatin prfessinals (arund 9 per cent in 214). The SiAS survey has fund, thugh, that yung teachers (thse aged 25 r less), wh culd be cnsidered t be graduates r early career teachers, are much less likely t be emplyed n an nging/permanent basis (althugh mre likely t be wrking full-time) than ther teachers. 24 Outlk Grwth in emplyment f schl teachers is prjected t be n par with that fr the Australian labur market verall (arund 1 per cent) ver the five years t Nvember 219. 25 The prprtin f schl teachers aged 45 years r lder is slightly higher than the all ccupatins average (44 per cent cmpared with 39 per cent) which is likely t result in significant demand fr teachers t replace thse wh retire ver the next decade. There are, thugh, marked differences in wrkfrce age prfiles by teaching prfessin, suggesting the effects f retirements will be unevenly felt. 26 19 NSW Gvernment: Department f Educatin and Cmmunities, Teaching Wrkfrce Supply and Demand: Schl teachers in NSW public schls, 214 2 Department f Educatin and Training, Higher Educatin Statistics Data Cube, 214, dmestic students 21 News.cm.au, The Aussie universities failing ur future teachers, 31 May 215 22 Department f Educatin and Training, StudentsFirst, http://dcs.educatin.gv.au/nde/3831, 29 June 215 23 GCA, Graduate Destinatins, 214 24 ACER, Staff in Australia s Schls 213: Main reprt n the survey, April 214 25 Department f Emplyment, Occupatinal Prjectins t Nvember 219 26 ABS, Labur Frce, 214 annual average Department f Emplyment Page 5
The Department s research findings have nt varied markedly ver recent years, with results indicating that teaching vacancies are generally readily filled and that there is relatively strng cmpetitin frm qualified applicants fr mst vacancies. It seems unlikely that this will change significantly in the shrt term, althugh sme cncerns have been raised that shrtages f teachers will emerge fr sme secndary schl subjects (Appendix C) and fr special educatin (Appendix D). 27 Sme cmmentatrs suggest that a fall in the number f students applying fr university places t study teacher educatin in 215 cmbined with strnger demand resulting frm the 21 st Century baby bm may result in teacher shrtages, particularly in remte lcatins and fr particular subjects such as mathematics, chemistry, physics and languages. 28 27 ACER, The Teacher wrkfrce in Australia: Supply, demand and data issues, March 215; Natinal Assciatin f Australian Teachers f the Deaf, Submissin n the Skilled Occupatin List (SOL) 215-16 28 The Weekend Australian, Teaching snub signals future shrtage, 29-3 August 215 Department f Emplyment Page 6
(') Appendix A: The Labur Market fr Early Childhd (Pre-Primary Schl) Teachers There has been a marked easing in this labur market ver the last cuple f years, despite strng emplyment grwth (driven in part by the intrductin f the Natinal Quality Framewrk). 29 In 214-15, arund 84 per cent f surveyed vacancies were filled, the highest prprtin in the current series, and emplyers attracted an average f 1.2 applicant per vacancy f whm 6.8 held relevant qualificatins and 2.1 were cnsidered by emplyers t be suitable (Figure A1). 3 ABS data suggest that emplyment grwth has been particularly strng ver the past tw years (Figure A2). 31 Figure A1: Prprtin f vacancies filled (%), average number f applicants and suitable applicants per vacancy (n.), Early childhd teachers, Australia, 27-8 t 214-15 Applicants per vacancy - RHS Suitable applicants per vacancy - RHS Prprtin f vacancies filled - LHS 1 25 84% (%) 8 6 4 71% 7. 65% 65% 7.8 8.8 59% 66% 6.6 6.5 69% 7.5 74% 8.1 1.2 2 15 1 (n.) 2 5 2.7 2. 1.4 1.9 1.8 2.2 2. 2.1 27-8 28-9 29-1 21-11 211-12 212-13 213-14 214-15 Surce: Department f Emplyment, Survey f Emplyers wh have Recently Advertised Figure A2: Emplyment ( ), Early childhd teachers, Australia, May 25 t May 215 4 35 3 25 2 15 1 5 Surce: ABS, Labur Frce, May 215, Department f Emplyment trend 29 ABS, Labur Frce, Department f Emplyment trend 3 Department f Emplyment, Skill Shrtage Research 31 ABS, Labur Frce, Department f Emplyment trend Department f Emplyment Page 7
28 29 21 211 212 213 28 29 21 211 212 213 This labur market has a mre diverse emplyment base than thse fr ther teaching specialisatins. Althugh the Educatin sectr emplys the vast majrity f schl teachers verall, nearly 4 per cent f early childhd teachers are emplyed in the Health Care and Scial Assistance industry. 32 Over recent years, emplyers recruiting early childhd teachers fr psitins in lng day care centres have experienced significant difficulty, reflecting their inability t cmpete with schls n pay and emplyment cnditins. In 214-15, hwever, there was relatively little difference natinally in the recruitment experiences f emplyers in the tw sectrs, with mst vacancies being filled withut particular difficulty. Differences persist, thugh, in New Suth Wales, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territry with vacancies in the childcare sectr in these lcatins being mre difficult t fill. 33 Althugh vacancies were generally mre readily filled in 214-15, emplyers in the childcare sectr (in all states and territries) raised cncerns abut recruitment and retentin f early childhd teachers. Reasns applicants were unsuitable The main reasns applicants were cnsidered t be unsuitable included lack f a bachelr degree qualificatin in early childhd teaching. This included arund ne Training third f applicants wh had certificate III r diplma level qualificatins, and thse still cmpleting their degrees. an inadequate understanding f the Early Years Learning Framewrk r standards defined in the Natinal Quality Framewrk. Over the five years t 213, training cmmencements in early childhd educatin increased by 59.8 per cent t arund 54 (Figure A4). 34 Cmpletins increased by 25.9 per cent t arund 26 ver the perid. Figure A4: Higher educatin award curse cmmencements and cmpletins, Early childhd educatin 28 t 213 6 5 4 3 2 1 Cmmencements Cmpletins Surce: Department f Educatin and Training, Higher Educatin Student Data, 213, dmestic students 32 ABS, Labur Frce, 214 annual average (Health Care and Scial Assistance industry includes the child care sectr) 33 Department f Emplyment, Skill Shrtage Research 34 Department f Educatin and Training, Higher Educatin Student Data Cllectin, 213, dmestic students Department f Emplyment Page 8
Graduate utcmes GCA data shw that graduates frm early childhd bachelr degrees had relatively strng emplyment utcmes in 214 (77.7 per cent fund full-time wrk). 35 Less than half f early childhd graduates are emplyed in the ccupatin fr which they had trained (49 per cent), but anther 3 per cent are emplyed as primary schl teachers (pssibly reflecting duble degrees in early childhd and primary schl teaching). Figure A5: Emplyed full-time (%), Early childhd educatin, Bachelr degree graduates, Australia 29 t 214 1 9 8 7 6 (%) 5 4 3 2 1 76.7 74.6 74.3 76.2 79.4 77.7 29 21 211 212 213 214 Surce: GCA, Graduate Destinatins, 214. Figures are as a prprtin f thse available fr full-time wrk Outlk The Department f Emplyment s prjectins shw strng grwth fr early childhd teachers (up by 19.8 per cent) ver the five years t Nvember 219. 36 Early childhd teachers are mre likely t be yunger than ther teachers 37 suggesting that replacement demand will be limited ver the next few years. 35 GCA, Graduate Destinatins, 214. Refers t bachelr degree graduates available fr full time wrk wh fund full-time emplyment within fur mnths f graduatin 36 Department f Emplyment, Occupatinal Prjectins t Nvember 219 37 ABS, Labur Frce, 214 annual average Department f Emplyment Page 9
Appendix B: The Labur Market fr Primary Schl Teachers Surveyed emplyers filled vacancies fr primary schl teachers with little difficulty regardless f the type f engagement (that is, full-time r part-time, permanent r nn-nging). Primary schl teacher vacancies had the largest candidate fields f any assessed teaching ccupatin and there is sme surplus capacity in this labur market. There were 18.8 applicants per vacancy, n average, in 214-15, f whm 17.6 held relevant qualificatins and 4.9 were cnsidered t be suitable. All emplyers had sme respnse t their advertisements and many attracted multiple applicants they cnsidered t be suitable. Requiring a cmmitment t a particular eths (which sme schls listed in their selectin criteria fr teachers) did nt significantly reduce the number f suitable applicants. Figure B1: Prprtin f vacancies filled (%), average number f applicants and suitable applicants per vacancy (n.), Primary Schl Teachers, Australia, 27-8 t 214-15 (%) Applicants per vacancy - RHS Suitable applicants per vacancy - RHS Prprtin f vacancies filled - LHS 94% 93% 94% 96% 95% 94% 95% 98% 1 25 8 6 4 12. 15.9 15.6 2.3 12.4 14.5 21.5 18.8 2 15 1 (n.) 2 5 Surce: Department f Emplyment, Survey f Emplyers wh have Recently Advertised Mst emplyers cmmented that they attracted recent graduates in respnse t their vacancy advertising. Several states, including New Suth Wales, Victria and Suth Australia, are reprted t have a surplus f primary schl teachers. 38 In New Suth Wales, at March 214, there were arund 25,4 primary schl teachers seeking permanent emplyment in the public schl system, with graduates and ther candidates adding t the applicant list. 39 Reasns applicants were unsuitable 4.9 4.4 3.8 4.9 3.8 3.7 3.3 4.1 27-8 28-9 29-1 21-11 211-12 212-13 213-14 214-15 The mst cmmn reasn fr applicants being cnsidered t be unsuitable fr primary schl teacher vacancies related t experience. Fr rles which entailed leadership, extensive experience was required and recent graduates were cnsidered t be unsuitable. Fr vacancies with cmpsite (multi-aged) classes, particular subjects r grades, lack f specific experience was a key reasn fr applicant unsuitability. 38 ACER, The Teacher wrkfrce in Australia: Supply, demand and data issues, March 215 39 NSW Educatin and Cmmunities, 214 Teaching Wrkfrce, Supply and Demand, Schl teachers in NSW public schls Department f Emplyment Page 1
28 29 21 211 212 213 28 29 21 211 212 213 Sme candidates did nt adequately address the selectin criteria in their applicatins and were cnsidered t be unsuitable. Training Dmestic student training cmmencements fr primary schl educatin increased by 38. per cent t 11,5 ver the five years t 213 (Figure B2). 4 Cmpletins increased by 14.1 per cent t 69 ver the perid. Figure B2: Higher educatin award curse cmmencements and cmpletins, Primary schl educatin 28 t 213 12, 1, 8, 6, 4, 2, Surce: Department f Educatin and Training, Higher Educatin Student Data, 213, dmestic students Graduate utcmes GCA data shw that emplyment utcmes weakened fr primary schl teacher graduates ver the five years t 214 (dwn by 8.1 percentage pints) t 66.9 per cent. This cmpares with 68.1 per cent fr all bachelr degree graduates. 41 Thse wh d find full-time emplyment, thugh, are likely t be emplyed as a primary schl teacher (84 per cent). Figure B3: Emplyed full-time (%), Primary educatin, Bachelr degree graduates, Australia, 29 t 214 (%) 1 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 75. Cmmencements 72.1 71.2 73.6 Cmpletins 66.5 66.9 29 21 211 212 213 214 Surce: GCA, Graduate Destinatins, 214. Figures are as a prprtin f thse available fr full-time wrk 4 Department f Educatin and Training, Higher Educatin Student Data Cllectin, 213, dmestic students 41 GCA, Graduate Destinatins, 214. Refers t graduates available fr full-time emplyment wh are wrking full-time fur mnths after graduatin Department f Emplyment Page 11
The SiAS survey has fund that yung teachers (thse aged 25 r yunger), wh culd be cnsidered t be graduates r early career teachers, are much less likely t be emplyed n an nging/permanent basis (althugh they are mre likely t be wrking full-time). 42 In 213, 6 per f primary schl teachers wh were aged 25 years r yunger were emplyed Outlk in fixed term, cntract r casual psitins. By cmparisn, amngst teachers aged 36 t 45 years, 21 per cent were emplyed under these arrangements. Emplyment is prjected t rise by 1.1 per cent ver the five years t Nvember 219, arund the same as the average acrss all ccupatins but lwer than fr prfessinals as a whle (14.2 per cent). 43 ACER frecasts that demand fr primary schl teachers will remain high in mst states until at least 22, with a marked increase in the number f additinal classes required in New Suth Wales (abut 38), Victria (45), Queensland (44) and Western Australia (35). 44 In light f the cntinuing high training numbers and current surpluses in sme states, supplies f primary schl teachers are expected t cntinue t be mre than adequate ver the next few years. 42 ACER, Staff in Australia s Schls 213: Main reprt n the survey, April 214 43 Department f Emplyment, Emplyment Prjectins t Nvember 219 44 ACER, The Teacher wrkfrce in Australia: Supply, demand and data issues, March 215 Department f Emplyment Page 12
Appendix C: The Labur Market fr Secndary Schl Teachers Surveyed vacancies fr secndary schl teachers cvered a wide range f subject areas. The research did nt identify any particular difficulty recruiting secndary schl teachers. Abut 94 per cent f surveyed vacancies were filled and there was an average f 11.2 applicants per vacancy, f whm 1. held relevant qualificatins and 3. were regarded as suitable (Figure C1). While sme emplyers reprt that it can be mre challenging t recruit fr mathematics and science psitins, especially advanced mathematics fr Years 11 and 12, the results indicate little difference in surveyed emplyers success filling vacancies acrss subject areas. There was n particular pattern t the few vacancies which were unfilled, they included heads f department in English and mathematics in reginal lcatins, especially in New Suth Wales (althugh similar vacancies in such lcatins were filled withut marked difficulty), and varius cmbinatins f business studies/it/science/mathematics/agriculture/gegraphy. In 214-15, the Department f Emplyment s discussins with cntacts had an increased fcus n identifying secndary schl subject areas fr which recruitment is ntably difficult. This wrk did nt present any real evidence f significant numbers f vacancies remaining unfilled r f emplyers cmprmising t recruit teachers in STEM specialisatins. Senir/leadership rles generally invlved undertaking additinal nn-class based supprt functins. While these rles were mre likely t attract applicants cnsidered t be unsuitable (in particular, recent graduates), they were generally filled. Reginal emplyers were mre likely t require applicants t have the ability t wrk flexibly acrss subject areas. There was little difference in the prprtin f secndary schl teacher vacancies filled in reginal areas cmpared with metrplitan areas, althugh candidate fields were smaller. Figure C1: Prprtin f vacancies filled (%), average number f applicants and suitable applicants per vacancy (n.), Secndary Schl Teachers, Australia, 27-8 t 214-15 Applicants per vacancy - RHS Suitable applicants per vacancy - RHS Prprtin f vacancies filled - LHS 1 82% 94% 85% 87% 95% 91% 91% 94% 25 8 2 (%) 6 4 11.5 1.8 9.4 11.3 1. 11.7 11.2 15 1 (n.) 2 5.9 2. 4.3 2.8 2.4 2.7 2.7 2.2 3. 27-8 28-9 29-1 21-11 211-12 212-13 213-14 214-15 5 Surce: Department f Emplyment, Survey f Emplyers wh have Recently Advertised Department f Emplyment Page 13
28 29 21 211 212 213 28 29 21 211 212 213 In New Suth Wales, as at March 214, there were 18,9 secndary schl teachers seeking permanent emplyment in the public schl system, with graduates and ther candidates adding t the applicant list. The largest applicant numbers were fr English teachers (mre than 38) and PDHPE (arund 32) and the smallest were fr LOTE (7) and mathematics (11). 45 Data n the extent f ut-f-field teaching at secndary schls are available frm the SiAS survey. 46 The extent f ut-f-field teaching drpped between the 21 and 213 but remains relatively high fr sme subjects. Out-f-field teaching was cmmn in gegraphy (4 per cent) and cmputing/it (31 per cent). The prprtin teaching English, mathematics and sciences wh had nt undertaken any tertiary training in the subject was relatively lw (2 per cent r less). Reasns applicants were unsuitable The key reasn that applicants were cnsidered t be unsuitable by emplyers was a lack f experience teaching in the particular subject area r cmbinatin f subjects required. Fr rles teaching senir grades, applicants ften had insufficient experience teaching particular subjects. In a small number f cases, unsuitable applicants were primary schl teachers wh were nt qualified r registered t teach in secndary schls. Training The number f cmmencements fr secndary schl educatin increased by 33.7 per cent t 1,3 ver the five years t 213, while cmpletins increased by 22.6 per cent t 65. 47 Training has increased particularly strngly at the pstgraduate level. Figure C2: Higher educatin award curse cmmencements and cmpletins, Secndary educatin, (n.) 28 t 213 12, 1, 8, 6, 4, 2, Cmmencements Cmpletins Surce: Department f Educatin and Training, Higher Educatin Student Data, 213, dmestic students Graduate utcmes Emplyment utcmes fr graduates with bachelr degrees in secndary schl teaching weakened ver the five years t 214, dwn by 14.6 percentage pints t 66.8 per cent (belw the all bachelr degree average f 68.1 per cent). 48 45 NSW Educatin and Cmmunities, 214 Teaching Wrkfrce, Supply and Demand, Schl teachers in NSW public schls 46 ACER, Staff in Australia s Schls 213: Main reprt n the survey, April 214 and ACER, Prfiles f Teachers in Selected Curriculum Areas: Further analysis f the Staff in Australia s Schls 213 Survey, May 214 47 Department f Educatin and Training, Higher Educatin Student Data Cllectin, 213, dmestic students Department f Emplyment Page 14
Graduates frm secndary schl educatin fields, thugh, are relatively likely t be emplyed as secndary schl teachers (8 per cent f thse wh were emplyed full-time). nt defined. Errr! Bkmark The SiAS has fund that yung teachers (thse aged 25 r less), wh culd be cnsidered t be graduates r early career teachers, are much less likely t be emplyed n an nging/permanent basis (althugh mre likely t be wrking full-time). 49 In 213, 51 per cent f secndary schl teachers wh were aged 25 r less were emplyed in fixed term, cntract r casual psitins. By cmparisn, 12 per cent f teachers aged 36 t 45 years were emplyed under these arrangements. Figure C3: Emplyed full-time (%),Bachelr degree graduates, Secndary educatin, Australia, 29 t 214 1 (%) 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 81.4 77.5 75.6 71.2 65.9 66.8 29 21 211 212 213 214 Surce: GCA, Graduate Destinatins, 214. Figures are as a prprtin f thse available fr full-time wrk Outlk The Department f Emplyment s prjectins shw relatively weak grwth fr secndary schl teachers ver the five years t Nvember 219 (up by 5.6 per cent cmpared with 1. per cent fr all ccupatins and 14.2 per cent fr all prfessins). This suggests that there will be arund 66 new jbs created. The ACER reprt ntes that there is currently an versupply f secndary schl teachers in sme subjects, but that shrtages are evident fr thers in sme lcatins. It suggests that, frm arund 218, as the number f students entering secndary schls rises, shrtages in sme subjects will becme acute unless supply can be enhanced. 5 48 GCA, Graduate Destinatins, 214 49 ACER, Staff in Australia s Schls 213: Main reprt n the survey, April 214 5 ACER, The Teacher wrkfrce in Australia: Supply, demand and data issues, March 215 Department f Emplyment Page 15
Appendix D: The Labur Market fr Special Educatin Teachers In 214-15, the scpe f the Department f Emplyment s research was expanded frm special needs teachers t special educatin teachers (which als includes teachers f hearing impaired and sight impaired students). 51 Surveyed vacancies were frm a range f educatinal settings, including special schls and mainstream primary and secndary schls, fr supprt and classrm-based rles. In 214-15, special educatin teacher vacancies were the hardest teaching psitins t fill but the vast majrity were filled within six weeks. Significant, widespread shrtages were nt identified althugh a small number f surveyed emplyers had difficulty attracting teachers with the precise skill sets they required. Arund 82 per cent f surveyed vacancies were filled, the lwest prprtin in the time series (nting, thugh, that the cverage changed in 214-15). There were 9.6 applicants per vacancy n average in 214-15 f whm 1.8 were cnsidered t be suitable. Figure D1: Prprtin f vacancies filled (%), average number f applicants and suitable applicants per vacancy (n.), Special Educatin Teachers, Australia, 27-8 t 214-15 Applicants per vacancy - RHS Suitable applicants per vacancy - RHS Prprtin f vacancies filled - LHS 1 8 81% 79% 83% 84% 95% 84% 91% 82% 25 2 (%) 6 4 9. 8.1 9.4 9.2 7.7 1.8 9.6 15 1 (n.) 2 5.3 5 1.9 1.6 1.9 2.8 1.7 1.7 2. 1.8 27-8 28-9 29-1 21-11 211-12 212-13 213-14 214-15 Surce: Department f Emplyment, Survey f Emplyers wh have Recently Advertised Advertised special educatin teacher vacancies did nt necessarily require applicants wh were specifically qualified in special educatin. Arund a quarter f surveyed emplyers were willing t recruit teachers wh had experience r prfessinal develpment in special educatin in lieu f special educatin qualificatins. Very few surveyed vacancies were fr teachers fr hearing r visin impaired students. There were, thugh, 4.3 applicants per vacancy n average in 214-15 wh held specific qualificatins in special needs educatin. The SiAS survey shws that 48 per cent f thse teaching special needs classes in primary schls had less than ne year f tertiary educatin in this area. 52 51 In past years, the Department s research cvered Special Needs Teacher (as defined in the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classificatin f Occupatins cde 2415-11), in 214-15 the research was bradened t 2415 Special Educatin Teachers. 52 ACER, Staff in Australia s Schls 213: Main reprt n the survey, April 214 and ACER, Prfiles f Teachers in Selected Curriculum Areas: Further analysis f the Staff in Australia s Schls 213 Survey, May 214 Department f Emplyment Page 16
Sme emplyers cmmented that it can be difficult t attract teachers with relevant qualificatins and they were, therefre, willing t cmprmise in rder t fill their psitins. A limited number f vacancies were identified during the research perid, and ther cntacts fr teaching prfessins were als asked abut the emplyment f special educatin teachers. Their cmments suggest that many hire learning supprt teachers instead f special educatin teachers. Sme cncerns have been raised abut shrtages f special educatin teachers. The Ryal Institute fr Deaf and Blind Children reprts that there is a critical shrtage f trained teachers f children with visin r hearing lss. 53 Reasns applicants were unsuitable Many unsuitable applicants were qualified teachers wh did nt have specific special educatin qualificatins. The main reasn applicants were cnsidered t be unsuitable, hwever, was lack f experience teaching students with special needs r a particular learning disrder (such as autism). Training Dmestic student cmmencements in special educatin (undergraduate and pstgraduate) increased by 55.2 per cent t 12 ver the five years t 213. 54 Cmpletins increased by 34.6 per cent t 8. Graduate utcmes In 214, emplyment utcmes fr graduates frm special educatin degrees were strnger than thse fr primary and secndary educatin graduates. Arund 79.2 per cent were in full-time wrk, dwn by 7.9 percentage pints cmpared with five years earlier. 55 Less than half f special educatin graduates, hwever, were emplyed in the ccupatin fr which they trained (43 per cent), with anther 3 per cent emplyed as primary teachers (likely reflecting the relevance f this qualificatin fr a range f teaching psitins). Figure D2: Emplyed full-time (%), Bachelr degree graduates, Special Educatin, Australia, 29 t 214 1 9 8 7 6 (%) 5 4 3 2 1 93.8 92.9 87.1 85.9 84.8 79.2 29 21 211 212 213 214 Surce: GCA, Graduate Destinatins, 214. Figures are as a prprtin f thse available fr full-time wrk 53 RIDBC, News: Graduate t make a difference t children with visin lss, 17 June 215 54 Department f Educatin and Training, Higher Educatin Student Data Cllectin, 213, dmestic students 55 GCA, Graduate Destinatins, 214. Refers t bachelr degree graduates available fr full-time emplyment wh are wrking full-time within fur mnths Department f Emplyment Page 17
Outlk The Department f Emplyment s prjectins shw strng emplyment grwth fr special educatin teachers ver the five years t Nvember 219 (up by 17.7 per cent). The Natinal Assciatin f Australian Teachers f the Deaf suggests that there will be a shrtage f teachers f the deaf in the medium t lng term. They nte that the number f pstgraduate training places is limited and sme states rely n teachers wh d nt have specialist training and itinerant teachers t prvide supprt t multiple schls. 56 56 Natinal Assciatin f Australian Teachers f the Deaf, Submissin n the Skilled Occupatin List (SOL) 215-16 Department f Emplyment Page 18