Labor Monopsony in Rural Pennsylvania and Its Implications for Teacher Turnover

• In Event: The Nexus of Leading and Teaching in Rural Spaces

Abstract

Teacher turnover is well-studied, particularly in urbanized locales, but less so in rural regions where demographics, socioeconomics, and population density differ. These differences manifest in the labor market, where urbanized districts may have access to more qualified teachers than their rural counterparts. This study explores how labor monopsony, a phenomenon in which an employer exercises dominance in the labor market, may mask turnover rates in rural regions. The study uses population data to compare turnover rates for new and experienced teachers between rural Central Pennsylvania and the urbanized Greater Philadelphia and Greater Pittsburgh regions. Although both teacher groups face similar pressures statewide, results indicate that turnover rates are substantially lower for rural teachers, possibly because of monopsonistic behavior.

Author

• Ethan Stacey Ake-Little, American Federation of Teachers