A study of selected factors associated with the supply of and demand for public school teachers and administrators in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador for the school year 1985-1986

Press, Harold L. (1987) A study of selected factors associated with the supply of and demand for public school teachers and administrators in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador for the school year 1985-1986. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

The importance of reliable information about teacher supply and demand has been well established. In recent years, the educational system has undergone a dynamic shift from a chronic shortage of teachers to an apparent surplus. The impact of this change has implications for planning and development by university faculties, government planners, teacher recruits and school administrators. -- The literature and related research regard teacher supply and demand as critical to the total planning process. Researchers have concluded that the problem is not so much surpluses and shortages in absolute terms but short term variances in geographic regions and subject areas. The purpose of this study was to identify factors associated with the supply of and demand for teachers and administrators in order to demonstrate potential regional and academic imbalances. More specifically, this study was an attempt to identify the reasons for job vacancies, the subject and administrative areas and geographic locations encompassing teacher demand, and the characteristics of the potential and actual supply of new teachers. -- An instrument was designed to obtain data relative to job vacancies in individual schools and school districts, and the individuals who filled those jobs. Results of the analysis of data revealed a general surplus of teachers. Over 6,600 applications were received for 569 vacancies and administrators between September 1, 1985 and August 31, 1986. On the other hand, a shortage was evident in educational therapy and potential shortages in guidance and music. -- The findings of this study strongly suggest that the teacher workforce is a dynamic enterprise. Considerable movement of teachers took place between schools, districts and provinces potentially creating jobs for those not in the workforce. -- The study found that there were vacancies in all regions of the Province, including the most isolated and the most urban. Contrary to what might have been expected, highly qualified personnel were hired in rural areas and inexperienced personnel were hired in urban centers. Demand increased inversely with community size; the highest vacancy rates being in communities with a population of less than 500. It was found that demand was highest in Labrador (15.8 percent), the most isolated region of the Province. -- It was found that school districts were seeking both generalist and specialist employees. Demand was greatest for educational therapists (53 percent) and French Immersion teachers (44.6 percent), while little demand was experienced for administrators (3.2 percent). -- Females comprised the majority of teachers hired and males comprised the majority of administrators hired. Four percent of new employees had no university degree and eight percent had at least a Master's degree. The median educational experience for all new employees was two years. -- Finally, it was found that 41.5 percent of new employees hired were already teaching at the time and 22.7 percent came directly from Memorial University. Teachers were hired from other teacher training institutions, from other educational institutions outside the Province, from other occupations, and from the ranks of the unemployed.

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