Higher Education Employment Continues To Outpace U.S. Jobs In Second Quarter

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Aug 16, 2012, 10:20 ET

STATE COLLEGE, Pa., Aug. 16, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The number of jobs in higher education continues to grow faster than overall U.S. employment, but the difference in growth rates narrowed in Q2 2012. In addition, the number of advertisements for job openings in higher education also grew during the second quarter of 2012 but at a more moderate rate, according to a new report from HigherEdJobs, the leading source for jobs and career information in academia. (http://www.higheredjobs.com/career/quarterly-report.cfm)

An analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data by HigherEdJobs finds that the number of jobs in higher education grew 2.1 percent during Q2 2012 compares to growth of 1.4 percent for all U.S. jobs, a difference of 0.7 percentage points. A year earlier in Q2 2011, the number of higher education jobs grew 2.2 percent, compared to overall job growth of 1.0 percent, or a gap of 1.2 percentage points.

Advertisements for job openings in higher education, both new and replacement, were also up in Q2 2012, but at a decelerating growth rate. The number of higher education job postings was up 19.5 percent in Q2 2012, compared to 24.1 percent growth the year before.

In addition, according to data from HigherEdJobs, it appears colleges and universities are starting to place renewed emphasis on hiring full-time faculty over part-time faculty. Job ads for full-time faculty jumped 18.3 percent during Q2 2012, while posts for part-time faculty were relatively flat, increasing only 1.3 percent. Historical data indicated ads for part-time positions had increased during and immediately after the recession.

The report analyzes job posting data from colleges and universities that have continuously subscribed to the company's unlimited posting plan for four years or longer, a group of more than 700 schools, as well as data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

HigherEdJobs is the leading source for jobs and career information in academia. During 2011, more than 4,700 colleges and universities posted over 97,000 faculty, administrative, and executive job postings to the company's website. HigherEdJobs receives 1,000,000 unique visitors a month. HigherEdJobs is published by Internet Employment Linkage, Inc. and is headquartered in State College, Pa.

To view the complete report, go to: http://www.higheredjobs.com/career/quarterly-report.cfm

SOURCE HigherEdJobs