Exploring the Landscape of Teacher Applications

Authors

Dan Goldhaber, University of Washington and The American Institutes of ResearchFollow
Cyrus Grout, University of Washington
Constance A. Lindsay, University of North Carolina
Elton Mykerezi, University of MinnesotaFollow
Aaron Sojourner, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment ResearchFollow
Lauren Dachille, Nimble

Upjohn Author ORCID Identifier

https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6839-2512

Series

Upjohn Institute working paper ; 25-421

DOI

10.17848/wp25-421

Issue Date

September 2025

Abstract

Despite widespread concern about teacher shortages, there is limited evidence on when job openings are posted and the supply of individuals applying for those openings. Using detailed job posting and application data from 19 school districts and 24 charter school organizations, we examine the seasonality of job postings, variation in applicant supply, and application patterns over the course of the hiring season. We find that 11% of jobs are posted late, with substantial variation across organizations. Regarding applicant supply, we find that school districts average fewer applicants per opening (3.3) than charters (6.1) and among districts, applicant supply is negatively associated with percentage of student eligible for free or reduced-price lunch and positively associated with salary. In contrast, among charters, we find no statistically significant relationship between applicant supply and either student demographics or salary. Timing also matters to applicant supply: for both districts and charters, jobs posted early in the hiring season attract roughly twice as many applications as those posted in the six weeks before school starts. While descriptive in nature, our findings add depth and specificity to the existing evidence on teacher supply.

Sponsorship

The Joyce Foundation

Subject Areas

EDUCATION; LABOR MARKET ISSUES; Wages, health insurance and other benefits; Industry studies; Job skills and standards