Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google

Employment in Higher Education Grows at Fastest Pace in Three Years

  • 02/19/16

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

  • Indiana University Launches Capital Campus in D.C.

    Indiana University recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new IU Capital Campus in Washington, D.C., according to university news. The eight-story facility will provide a central hub for the university’s existing programs and business operations based in D.C., uniting them under one roof and providing the opportunity to expand.

  • University of Oklahoma Announces New Campus Master Plan

    The University of Oklahoma in Norman, Okla., recently announced that it will soon launch a new, comprehensive Campus Master Plan to guide the campus’ physical development during the next decade, according to a news release.

  • Rowan University, HPE Partner on New Learning Initiative

    Rowan University in Glassboro, N.J., recently announced that it has expanded its partnership with enterprise technology provider HPE to improve research capabilities and hands-on learning opportunities, according to a news release.

  • UTampa Breaks Ground on STEM Academic Facility

    The University of Tampa in Tampa, Fla., recently broke ground on one of its largest academic facilities ever, according to a news release. The Dickey Science Innovation Center will measure 153,000 square feet and has a scheduled completion date of fall 2028.