Rhode Island Teaching Jobs Expanding

Posted on September 4, 2008

Rhode Island teaching jobs are expected to grow faster than the statewide average for all jobs.

In July 2008, Rhode Island‘s education and health services industry employed 99,900 people, an increase of .4 percent from last year, according to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics.

An increase of 55,000 Rhode Island jobs is expected through 2014, reaching 573,437 jobs, up 10.7 percent from 518,145 in 2004. More than 10 percent of the new jobs created will be in the education industry, according to an article by the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training. The industry is projected to employ 51,000 workers by 2014, an increase of 5,200 jobs, or 11.3 percent.

It is expected employers will need to fill more than 15,400 job openings through 2014, 5,435, or 35 percent, from economic growth and 9,973 because of employee turnover.

Elementary and secondary schools and colleges and universities make up 93 percent of employment in the education industry. The remaining employment is found in junior colleges, business schools, trade schools and educational support services.

“Among the fastest growing jobs in the educational services sector are postsecondary school teachers,” the article notes. “Postsecondary school teachers, in a variety of disciplines, are projected to increase by a rate of 24 percent, more than twice the average rate expected for all occupations. A substantial number of job openings will also be available for those interested in working at the primary and secondary school levels, as well as in Educational Administration.”

The fastest growing jobs in the industry include: postsecondary mathematical science teachers; postsecondary engineering teachers; postsecondary English language and literature teachers; postsecondary art, drama and music teachers; postsecondary business teachers; postsecondary nursing instructors and teachers; postsecondary computer science teachers; preschool, kindergarten and elementary school special education teachers and middle school special education teachers.

Possible establishments those in the education industry can be employed at include:

• elementary and secondary schools with an average annual wage of $42,311
• junior colleges with an average annual wage of $43,112
• colleges and universities with an average annual wage of $43,539
• business, computer and management training with an average annual wage of $38,138
• technical and trade schools with an average annual wage of $23,126
• other schools and instruction with an average annual wage of $17,644
• educational support services with an average annual wage of $36,587