The demand for people to administer education programs will increase as education and training become progressively more important issues to everyone. Employment projections through 2012 show the market for education administrators growing faster than the average for all other types of employment. This projection, in combination with significant proportions of current education administrators who are likely to retire within the next decade, creates a favorable job environment for upcoming education administrators.
Expansion in the for-profit and private sectors of education will account for a large portion of growth. Many of those who previously had not been able to participate in postsecondary education will have the chance as many of these schools will cater to working adults. Non-traditional students can earn a degree, receive training or update skills in job-specific areas, in a convenient manner by attending part-time or distance learning programs offered at these schools. It will be necessary for these schools to employ more administrators as they continue to grow.
Employment for education administrators is also effected by the number of young children attending school. Projections done by the U.S. Department of Education estimates a 5 to 7 percent enrollment increase of elementary and secondary school students over the next ten years. As more and more young children attend formal child care and less and less are cared for at homes the number of administrators at preschools and childcare centers is expected to skyrocket. Furthermore additional preschool directors will be needed if mandatory preschool becomes more popular. Postsecondary administrators are expected to be in high demand due to the rapid growth at the postsecondary level compared to other student populations. Enrollments are anticipated to rise most quickly in areas of the country where there is significant growth in population, in the South and west for example, and decrease or stabilize in the Midwest and Northeast where populations will plateau or decline. In rural and urban areas where salaries are smaller than their urban counterparts administrators are in demand as well.
There should be good job prospects for principals and assistant principals. Fewer teachers have been seeking administrative jobs due to a drastic increase in the work load and job stress of these positions. Principals now must respond to increasing government regulations while also assuming full accountability for students and teachers performance. There may be additional burdens on the shoulders of some administrators in areas where teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, breeches in safety, and budget deficits are concerns. Often the additional pay is not enough to attract people to the field.
Many openings for college and university administration positions, especially nonacademic positions can be expected. Despite limited budgets during economic slumps, anticipated enrollment growth will call for institutions to hire more administrators in addition to the many they replace due to retirement. Although prominent positions will still create a fair amount of competition between faculty, positions such as director of admissions or student affairs and other nonacademic administrative positions will attract far fewer applicants. Additionally the high standard of education necessary for education administration applicants detour those not interested in obtaining a master’s or doctoral degree, or would prefer to apply their advanced degrees in other professions that yield higher salaries.