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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 0000-0002-9272-0130), Minseok Yang (ORCID 0000-0002-9399-0095)
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
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Se+Woong+Lee%22">Se Woong Lee</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9272-0130">0000-0002-9272-0130</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Minseok+Yang%22">Minseok Yang</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9399-0095">0000-0002-9399-0095</externalLink>)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Educational+Evaluation+and+Policy+Analysis%22"><i>Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis</i></searchLink>. 2026 48(2):536-566.
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  Data: 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
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Rural+Schools%22">Rural Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Rural+Areas%22">Rural Areas</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teachers%22">Teachers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Characteristics%22">Teacher Characteristics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Employment%22">Teacher Employment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Placement%22">Teacher Placement</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Teacher+Supply+and+Demand%22">Teacher Supply and Demand</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Employment+Patterns%22">Employment Patterns</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Job+Applicants%22">Job Applicants</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Influences%22">Influences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Environmental+Influences%22">Environmental Influences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Rural+Education%22">Rural Education</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Wisconsin%22">Wisconsin</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.3102/01623737251348263
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  Data: 0162-3737<br />1935-1062
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: 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.
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        Value: 10.3102/01623737251348263
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      – Text: English
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      Pagination:
        PageCount: 31
        StartPage: 536
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Rural Schools
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Rural Areas
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teachers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teacher Characteristics
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      – SubjectFull: Teacher Employment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teacher Placement
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Teacher Supply and Demand
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Employment Patterns
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Job Applicants
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Influences
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Environmental Influences
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      – SubjectFull: Rural Education
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      – SubjectFull: Wisconsin
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      – TitleFull: 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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              Y: 2026
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