Employment in Higher Education Grows at Fastest Pace in Three Years

STATE COLLEGE, PA – The number of jobs in higher education increased 1.25 percent in Q4 2015, or about 24,100 jobs, which was the largest increase in jobs for the sector in three years, regardless of quarter. For the year, higher education jobs were up 0.55 percent in 2015, nearly identical to the 0.58 percent growth in 2014.

Drilling down deeper, HigherEdJobs' analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data found that four-year colleges and universities gained 29,400 jobs, or 1.6 percent, while community colleges lost 5,300 jobs, or 4.0 percent of their workforce. On an annual basis, higher education netted an additional 9,800 jobs, or 0.6 percent in 2015, which was only incrementally less than the growth of 10,200 jobs in 2014.

The report from HigherEdJobs also looks at trends in advertisements for job postings in academia. It found that the number of advertisements for all types of jobs in academia increased 19.9 percent in Q4 2015, the biggest fourth quarter increase in at least four years. In addition, the number of full-time faculty job postings grew 6.1 percent, while job postings for full-time administrative and executive positions increased 25.4 percent.

“After several years of declining job growth followed by a stagnant period, it appears that academia — at least at four-year institutions — is beginning to add both faculty as well as administrative and executive positions,” says John Ikenberry, president of HigherEdJobs.

The report analyzes the most current data from BLS and HigherEdJobs' posting trends 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. The full report can be viewed at www.higheredjobs.com/career/quarterly-report.cfm.

HigherEdJobs® is the leading source for jobs and career information in academia. During 2015, over 5,400 colleges and universities posted more than 186,000 faculty, administrative and executive job postings to the company's website, which receives more than 1.2 million unique visitors a month. HigherEdJobs is published by Internet Employment Linkage, Inc. and is headquartered in State College, PA.

Featured

  • 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.

  • Armstrong World Industries Acquires Geometrik

    Armstrong World Industries, designer and manufacturer of interior and exterior architectural applications like ceilings, walls, and metal solutions, recently announced its acquisition of Canada-based Geometrik, according to a news release. The British Columbian Geometrik specializes in designing and manufacturing wood acoustical and wall systems.

  • illustration of a school building under construction

    One District, One Way: Bringing Consistency to K–12 Construction Projects

    From budgeting to closeout, here's how a single playbook can turn chaos into clarity in school construction programs.

  • North Dakota State University Completes Music School Renovation

    North Dakota State University in Fargo, N.D., recently announced that construction on the Challey School of Music has finished, according to a news release. The university partnered with Foss Architecture & Interiors for design and Kraus-Anderson for construction services, and construction began in July 2024.

Digital Edition