 Educational
Services
 Related
Profiles of
Professionals
Industry
Overview
Education is an important part of life. The amount and type of education
that individuals receive are a major influence on both the types of jobs
they are able to hold and their earnings. Lifelong learning is important
in acquiring new knowledge and upgrading one's skills, particularly in
this age of rapid technological and economic changes. The educational
services industry includes a variety of institutions that offer academic
education, vocational or career and technical instruction, and other
education and training to millions of students each year.
 Because
school attendance is compulsory until at least age 16 in all 50 States
and the District of Columbia, elementary, middle, and secondary schools
are the most numerous of all educational establishments. They provide
academic instruction to students in kindergarten through grade 12 in a
variety of settings, including public schools, parochial schools,
boarding and other private schools, and military academies. Some
secondary schools offer a mixture of academic and career and technical
instruction.
 Postsecondary
institutions -- universities, colleges, professional schools, community
or junior colleges, and career and technical institutes -- provide
education and training in both academic and technical subjects for high
school graduates and other adults.
Universities offer bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees, while
colleges generally offer only the bachelor's degree. Professional
schools offer graduate degrees in fields such as law, medicine, business
administration, and engineering. The undergraduate bachelor's degree
typically requires 4 years of study, while graduate degrees require
additional years of study. Community and junior colleges and technical
institutes offer associate degrees, certificates, or other diplomas,
typically involving 2 years of study or less. Career and technical
schools provide specialized training and services primarily related to a
specific job. They include computer and cosmetology training
institutions, business and secretarial schools, correspondence schools,
and establishments that offer certificates in commercial art and
practical nursing.
A growing number of
career and technical programs are emphasizing general workplace skills,
such as problem solving, teamwork, and customer service. Many high
schools now offer technical preparatory programs, which are developed
jointly by high schools and community colleges to provide a continuous
course of study leading to an associate's degree or other postsecondary
credential.
 Computer
technology continues to affect the education industry. Computers
simplify administrative tasks and make it easier to track student
performance. Teachers use the Internet in classrooms as well as to
communicate with colleagues around the country; students use the
Internet for research projects. Distance learning continues to expand as
more postsecondary institutions use Internet-based technology to conduct
lessons and coursework electronically, allowing students in distant
locations access to educational opportunities formerly available only on
campus.
Working
Environment
 School
conditions often vary from town to town. Some schools in poorer
neighborhoods may be rundown, have few supplies and equipment, and lack
air conditioning. Other schools may be new and well equipped and
maintained. Conditions at postsecondary institutions are generally very
good.
Most educational
institutions operate 10 months a year, but summer sessions for special
education or remedial students are not uncommon; institutions that cater
to adult students, and those that offer educational support services,
such as tutoring, generally operate year-round as well. Many teachers
spend significant time outside of school preparing for class, doing
administrative tasks, conducting research, writing articles and books,
and pursuing advanced degrees.
Employment
The educational
services industry was the second largest industry in the economy in
2004, providing jobs for about 13.0 million workers -- more than 12.8
million wage and salary workers, and 199,000 self-employed and unpaid
family workers. Most jobs are found in elementary and secondary schools,
either public or private. According to the latest data from the
Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics,
close to 90 percent of students attend public primary and secondary
schools, and about 75 percent attend public postsecondary institutions.
Degree
Paths into this Industry
 This
website focuses primarily on career paths for those with degrees in
science, engineering, mathematics, computing, technology, and medicine,
which represent a small portion of the many people involved in
educational services. However, individuals with these degrees
often want to share their passion for their field with students of all
ages. Some individuals may choose to go into education after
spending the bulk of their career in a different field, such as
engineering or finance.
Teachers account for
almost half of all workers in the industry. Their duties depend on the
age group and subject they teach, as well as on the type of institution
in which they work. Teachers should have a sincere interest in helping
students and should also have the ability to inspire respect, trust, and
confidence. Strong speaking and writing skills, inquiring and analytical
minds, and a desire to pursue and disseminate knowledge are vital
prerequisites for teachers.
Preschool,
kindergarten, and elementary school teachers play a critical role in the
early development of children. Middle and secondary school teachers help
students delve more deeply into subjects introduced in elementary
school. Middle and secondary school teachers specialize in a specific
academic subject, such as science, mathematics, or engineering, or a
career and technical area, such as automobile mechanics, business
education, or computer repair. Some supervise after-school
extracurricular activities, and some help students deal with academic
problems, such as choosing courses, colleges, and careers.
 Postsecondary
teachers, or faculty, as they are usually called, generally are
organized into departments or divisions, based on their subject or
field. They teach and advise college students and perform a significant
part of our Nation's research. They prepare lectures, exercises, and
laboratory experiments; grade exams and papers; and advise and work with
students individually. Postsecondary teachers keep abreast of
developments in their field by reading current literature, talking with
colleagues and businesses, and participating in professional
conferences. They also consult with government, business, nonprofit, and
community organizations. In addition, they do their own research to
expand knowledge in their field, often publishing their findings in
scholarly journals, books, and electronic media.
Education
administrators provide vision, direction, leadership, and day-to-day
management of educational activities in schools, colleges and
universities, businesses, correctional institutions, museums, and job
training and community service organizations. They set educational
standards and goals and aid in establishing the policies and procedures
to carry them out.
 Educational,
vocational, and school counselors work at the elementary, middle,
secondary, and postsecondary school levels and help students evaluate
their abilities, talents, and interests so that the students can develop
realistic academic and career options. Using interviews, counseling
sessions, tests, and other methods, secondary school counselors also
help students understand and deal with their social, behavioral, and
personal problems. They advise on college majors, admission
requirements, and entrance exams and on trade, technical school, and
apprenticeship programs. Elementary school counselors do more social and
personal counseling and less career and academic counseling than do
secondary school counselors. School counselors may work with students
individually or in small groups, or they may work with entire classes.
Industry
Forecast
 Wage
and salary employment growth of 17 percent is expected in the
educational services industry over the 2004–14 period, higher than the
14 percent increase projected for all industries combined. In addition,
a greater-than-average number of workers are over the age of 45 in
nearly all the major occupations that make up the industry, so it is
likely that retirements will create large numbers of job openings in
addition to those due to employment growth.
School districts,
particularly those in urban and rural areas, continue to report
difficulties in recruiting qualified teachers, administrators, and
support personnel. Retirements are expected to remain high over
the 2004-14 period, so the number of students graduating with education
degrees may not be sufficient to meet this industry's growing needs,
making job opportunities for graduates in many education fields good to
excellent. Currently, alternative licensing programs are helping to
attract more people into teaching, especially those from other career
paths, but opportunities should continue to be very good for highly
qualified teachers, especially those in subject areas with the highest
needs, such as math, science, and special education.
 At
the postsecondary level, increases in student enrollments and projected
retirements of current faculty should contribute to a favorable job
market for postsecondary teachers. As children of the baby boom
generation continue to reach college age, and as more adults pursue
continuing education to enhance or update their skills, postsecondary
student enrollments are expected to increase rapidly, spurring much
faster-than-average employment growth for postsecondary teachers.
However, candidates applying for tenured positions will continue to face
keen competition as many colleges and universities rely on adjunct or
part-time faculty and graduate students to make up a larger share of the
total instructional staff than in the past.
Related
Degree Fields
Professional
Associations/Other Resources
Note: Some resources in this section are provided by the US Department
of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
|
|
