Who Is Applying to and Being Hired by Rural Schools? What Vacancy and Application Data Reveal about the Rural Teacher Labor Market
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| Title: | Who Is Applying to and Being Hired by Rural Schools? What Vacancy and Application Data Reveal about the Rural Teacher Labor Market |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Se Woong Lee (ORCID |
| Source: | Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis. 2026 48(2):536-566. |
| Availability: | SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 31 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Rural Schools, Rural Areas, Teachers, Teacher Characteristics, Teacher Employment, Teacher Placement, Teacher Supply and Demand, Employment Patterns, Job Applicants, Influences, Environmental Influences, Rural Education |
| Geographic Terms: | Wisconsin |
| DOI: | 10.3102/01623737251348263 |
| ISSN: | 0162-3737 1935-1062 |
| Abstract: | Although research has investigated teacher labor markets over decades, there remains a notable gap in our understanding of staffing challenges in rural schools. Using longitudinal vacancy and application data in Wisconsin, we explore teachers' job application and hiring patterns between rural and non-rural schools and within rural locales. Our investigation revealed that as the proximity to urban areas decreases, the applicant pool for rural positions diminishes, with applicants originating from more distant locations. Female applicants, candidates of Color, and individuals with elevated qualifications demonstrated a reduced inclination to seek employment in rural schools. Conversely, individuals with prior rural teaching experience and graduates of rural-based teacher preparation programs exhibited substantial proclivities toward both applying for and securing positions within rural educational settings. Our findings have significant implications for policymakers endeavoring to design and implement targeted programs for addressing the persistent staffing challenges confronting rural schools. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1506026 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Although research has investigated teacher labor markets over decades, there remains a notable gap in our understanding of staffing challenges in rural schools. Using longitudinal vacancy and application data in Wisconsin, we explore teachers' job application and hiring patterns between rural and non-rural schools and within rural locales. Our investigation revealed that as the proximity to urban areas decreases, the applicant pool for rural positions diminishes, with applicants originating from more distant locations. Female applicants, candidates of Color, and individuals with elevated qualifications demonstrated a reduced inclination to seek employment in rural schools. Conversely, individuals with prior rural teaching experience and graduates of rural-based teacher preparation programs exhibited substantial proclivities toward both applying for and securing positions within rural educational settings. Our findings have significant implications for policymakers endeavoring to design and implement targeted programs for addressing the persistent staffing challenges confronting rural schools. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0162-3737 1935-1062 |
| DOI: | 10.3102/01623737251348263 |
