ANZSCO2412-13South Australia
Primary School TeacherApril 2017
Labour Economics Office South Australia
Department of Employment
Current labour market ratingNo Shortage
Previous labour market rating (April 2016)No Shortage
Comments
There were no reported difficulties in recruiting primary school teachers. Results of the survey indicate there is no shortage of primary school teachers in South Australia.
Survey results
- The South Australian Department of Education and Child Development (DECD) employs the majority of primary school teachers within the state[1]. Recruitment of government primary school teachers is managed centrally and positions are not normally advertised externally.
- With the exception of one position, all State Government primary school teaching positions were filled prior to the commencement of the 2017 academic year.
- Based on a survey of non-government schools, 100 per cent of recently advertised vacancies for primary school teachers were filled within six weeks. This is the same proportion of vacancies filled for the previous five years.
- On average, there were 12.3 applicants per vacancy, a significant decrease on the 33.5 applicants per vacancy found in 2016. This figure is low when compared with the average across ten years (22.6).
- Employers within the metropolitan area received a higher number of applications per vacancy (15.1) compared with regional employers (4.1).
- To continue the trend, there was an average of 4.7suitable applicants per vacancy, a slightly below average result when compared with the average across ten years (6.5).
- In spite of the decline in applicant pool size, employers attract a sufficient number of suitable applicants for their vacant positions and there is no evidence of shortage in either public or private sectors.
Unsuitable applicants
- To be a teacher in South Australia you must meet the Teachers Registration Board’s minimum qualification requirements and hold a teachers registration. You must hold higher education (i.e. university) qualifications that total at least four years of full-time (or part-time equivalent) study, including an approved teacher education qualification; an approved undergraduate teacher education qualification oran approved postgraduate teacher education qualification.[2]Only a very small number of applicants did not meet this criterion.
- The main reason for unsuitability was lack of relevant teaching experience. Many of the schools reported receiving applications from recent graduates and teachers with limited experience in the occupation.
- Another reason for unsuitability was lack ofspecific experience. Some employers reported that specialist skills were an important factor when selecting a suitable candidate. Some roles required demonstrated experience with particular age groups of children or experience in delivering specific subjects such as art or physical education.
- Many of the employers required applicants to demonstrate an active commitment to a particular religious faith. Overall, however, this did not seem to significantly reduce the number of suitable applications.
- Some schools stated that personal attributes and communication skills were a significant consideration in selecting suitable applicants. In some cases, applicants who lacked skills and experience in communicating with and engaging young children and managing behaviours were considered unsuitable.
Demand and supply trends
- Demand for primary school teachers is largely influenced by demographic trends, as they impact on the number of children enrolled in primary schools.
- The number of full-time equivalent primary school students in South Australia hadincreased by 1.3 per cent in 2015 and has further increased by another 1.2 per cent in 2016.[3]
- Consistent with thisgrowth, there was a corresponding 1.1 per cent increase in full-time equivalent primary school teachingstaff in South Australia in 2016.[4]
- A large increase in the number of primary school teacher internet vacancies was observed in 2016 compared to 2015. However, it is important to note the data collection does not include specialised websites such as Teachers.on.net and therefore is not a comprehensive indicator of vacancy trends.[5]
- The major source of supply comes from university training. Although yearlyvariationexists in the data, two major trends in university student completions for primary education courses are recognised. Firstly, completion numbersdeclined from 2008 to 2012. However, from 2013 to 2015 completion numbers have increased modestly each year.[6]
Labour Economics Office South Australia
Department of Employment
[1]ABS, Schools, Australia, 2016 (ABS Cat. No. 4221.0) Table 51a
[2] Teachers Registration board of South Australia, Qualifications -
[3] ABS Schools, Australia, Cat. No. 4221.0, 2016, Table 43a.
[4]ABS Schools, Australia, Cat. No. 4221.0, 2016, Table 51a.
[5]Department of Employment, Internet Vacancy Index, December 2016, 12 month moving average
[6]Department of Education and Training, Higher Education Student Data Collection, 2015, customised tables