Employment in Higher Education Contracts as Job Postings Increase

STATE COLLEGE, PA — The number of jobs in higher education decreased in Q2 2014 for the fourth consecutive quarter and the largest decline since the current downward trend began. During the same period, the number of advertisements for job openings in higher education continued to grow, according to a new report from HigherEdJobs, the leading source for jobs and career information in academia. The full report can be viewed at higheredjobs.com.

An analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data by HigherEdJobs found the total number of jobs in higher education was down 1.14 percent in Q2 2014, or about 20,100 jobs, compared to the same period last year. Community colleges, in particular, noticed a sharp drop in employment decreasing by 9.7 percent, or about 7,500 jobs.

Counter to the downward trend in higher education employment, the number of advertisements for job postings in academia continued to increase in Q2 2014 and, although at a greater pace than a year ago, not as fast as observed in prior periods. Some major developments in Q2 2014 include increased hiring for administrative and executive positions compared to faculty as well as growth in job postings for part-time positions.

The recent declines in overall higher education jobs and the increase of part-time job postings could be related to colleges and universities being pressed to make spending cuts despite instituting tuition hikes. A recent report from Washington-based Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found higher education funding “remains well below pre-recession levels in almost all states.”

The report analyzes data from BLS and HigherEdJobs’ posting data from colleges and universities that have continuously subscribed to the company's unlimited posting plan for four years, a group of more than 850 schools that have no financial deterrent not to post any openings.

About HigherEdJobs
HigherEdJobs® is the leading source for jobs and career information in academia. During 2013, over 5,300 colleges and universities posted more than 136,000 faculty, administrative and executive job postings to the company’s website, which receives more than 1,000,000 unique visitors a month. HigherEdJobs is published by Internet Employment Linkage, Inc. and is headquartered in State College, PA.

Featured

  • Hawaii Elementary School Breaks Ground on New Classroom Building

    Kealakehe Elementary School in Kailua, Hawaii, recently began construction on a new, $16-million classroom building for its campus, according to a news release. The 13,000-square-foot building will stand two stories and connect the existing upper and lower campuses.

  • UT System Board of Regents Approves $108M Housing Complex

    The University of Texas System Board of Regents recently announced the approval of a new, $108-million housing complex at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), according to a news release. The facility will stand four stories and have a total of 456 new beds for freshmen students.

  • Texas State University Completes Stadium Renovations

    Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, recently announced that it has completed a series of additions and renovations to its football stadium, according to a news release. Formerly known as the Bobcat Stadium End Zone Complex, the Johnny and Nathali Weisman Football Performance Center is an 85,000-square-foot expansion featuring hospitality spaces, banquet spaces, exterior concourses, and upgrades to the field house.

  • iPark 87

    Building a Future-Focused Career and Technical Education Center

    A district superintendent shares his team's journey to aligning student passions with workforce demands, and why their new CTE center could be a model for districts nationwide.

Digital Edition