Employment in Higher Education Ticks Upward Ending Yearlong Decline

STATE COLLEGE, Pa., Nov. 25, 2014 — The number of jobs in higher education ticked upward in Q3 2014, reversing a downward trend that lasted four consecutive quarters, according to the latest report from HigherEdJobs.

An analysis of U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data by HigherEdJobs found the total number of jobs in higher education increased by about 3,200 jobs, or 0.2 percent in Q3 2014 compared to the same period last year. Four-year colleges and universities gained 5,800 jobs, or 0.4 percent, while community colleges lost 2,600 jobs, or 3.7 percent of their workforce.

The total number of higher education jobs lost from Q3 2013 to Q2 2014, inclusive, was approximately 57,500, so the 3,200 increase in Q3 2014 was fairly minor but could indicate either a break in the trend or a possible cessation of the recent downward movement.

The latest report from HigherEdJobs also examines advertisements for job postings in academia. It found that the number of advertisements for job postings in academia continued to increase in Q3 2014, but at a moderated pace. Institutions also continued to shift their hiring slightly towards administrative and executive positions over faculty positions compared to last year while the actual numbers of postings for both types of positions were up.

Although the trend for part-time job postings for both faculty and non-faculty positions outpaced full-time job postings, the increases in Q3 2014 were moderate indicating a possible stabilization of employment levels and practices throughout higher education institutions.

The report analyzes the most current data from BLS and HigherEdJobs’ posting trends from colleges and universities that have continuously subscribed to the company’s unlimited posting plan for four years, a group of more than 850 schools that have no financial deterrent not to post any openings. The full report can be viewed at www.higheredjobs.com/career/quarterly-report.cfm .

HigherEdJobs® is the leading source for jobs and career information in academia. During 2013, over 5,300 colleges and universities posted more than 136,000 faculty, administrative, and executive job postings to the company’s website, which receives more than 1,000,000 unique visitors a month. HigherEdJobs is published by Internet Employment Linkage, Inc. and is headquartered in State College, Pa.