Mapping Teacher Labor Demand: Real-Time Analysis of Job Postings Across Wyoming School Districts

• In Event: AERA Poster Session Friday 1:45 pm
  In Poster Session: Mapping Teacher Labor Demand: Real-Time Analysis of Job Postings in Wyoming

Abstract

Teacher shortages in the United States, particularly in rural and high-need areas, are intensified by low pay, high emotional demands, and administrative challenges. This study leverages real-time job postings as indicators of educator labor demand, drawing on Human Capital Theory to interpret postings as signals of workforce value and institutional priorities. Weekly job posting data from all 48 Wyoming school districts were collected, categorized, and analyzed using negative binomial and linear mixed-effects models. Findings reveal persistent shortages in Special Education, STEM, and Elementary Education, with posting trends varying significantly by district. A custom R Shiny dashboard supports interactive visualization of statewide hiring patterns, offering actionable insights for workforce planning and targeted policy interventions.

Authors

• Mark A. Perkins, University of Wyoming

• Bolaji Aderibigbe Akorede, University of Wyoming