So, you want a job, eh?

This week, our guest blogger, Gary Rupert, discusses the market trends for the teaching profession. As a Program Coordinator, Gary provides support to current B.Ed. students.

The number of teaching jobs in BC, as in other jurisdictions, increases and decreases as a result of many influences. Provincial financing, new curriculum, retirement incentives and local economies in our communities all have an impact. The majority of teaching positions are in the Lower Mainland, but there are positions throughout the province in public schools and independent schools, especially in specialized teaching areas.

In general terms, the average age of teachers in BC, especially in the Lower Mainland and Victoria is relatively high. This suggests that there should be a significant cohort of teachers retiring in the next 5 years. If the BC economy remains strong, there will also be significant immigration, typically including families with school-age children. This suggests that there will be increasing numbers of teaching positions in the communities involved.

On the other hand, where communities are resource based and the economy is working against growth as in the forest industry, there have been school closures as families move to new communities seeking work.

Finally, when planning where to look for teaching jobs, new teachers have to consider demographic trends. New families with young children have been priced out of some housing markets by the dramatic increase in home costs in the last 5 years. This suggests that while it is attractive to stay in the centre of the Lower Mainland due to the sports, shopping and entertainment options, the growth in schools is likely to be in the suburbs.

There are places in the world with teacher shortages including the UK, parts of the US and a number of countries that are requiring children to learn English along with their native language. It does not appear likely, however, that there will be a major shortage of teachers in British Columbia even though some growth in total teacher numbers is expected. The only possible exception is the possibility of the Provincial Government instituting all-day kindergarten as that will cause a short-term demand for primary teachers.

In the end, obtaining a teaching job is a combination of networking, being well-prepared, doing good teaching, remaining positive and good luck.