Local Labor Market Conditions and Career and Technical Education (CTE) Teacher Turnover

• In Event: Sustainable Secondary CTE Systems: Evidence on Postsecondary Pathways, Teacher Retention, and Local Labor Markets

Abstract

Teacher shortages in academic subjects have been widely documented and debated (Berry & Shields, 2017; Nguyen et al., 2022), with growing attention to the factors that shape teacher supply and turnover (Darling-Hammond et al., 2023; Morgan et al., 2023). However, comparatively little research has examined shortages among Career and Technical Education (CTE) teachers (Advance CTE, 2016; Anglum et al., 2023), despite persistent challenges in recruiting and retaining qualified instructors (Devier, 2019). State CTE leaders consistently identify expanding access to industry-experienced educators as a top priority (Advance CTE, 2016), and more than half of states report shortages in at least one CTE area (U.S. Department of Education, 2025). These shortages may be particularly pronounced in high-growth, high-wage, and STEM-related fields, where teachers’ industry-aligned skills are highly valued outside of education (Kistler, Dougherty, & Woods, 2024). As a result, schools may face the greatest staffing challenges in the very programs that offer the strongest economic opportunities for students. At the same time, variation in local labor market conditions may differentially shape both the supply of and demand for CTE teachers, introducing important geographic heterogeneity into these staffing challenges. 

Building on prior research linking teacher mobility to local labor market conditions, this study uses administrative data from the state of Florida to examine whether stronger local labor markets are associated with higher rates of CTE teacher turnover. It further investigates heterogeneity across CTE career clusters to assess whether teachers in certain fields are more responsive to local economic conditions than others. In doing so, the study also considers how external wage opportunities and industry demand may compete with teaching positions, particularly in technical fields. By clarifying how local labor markets shape CTE teacher retention, this study contributes to policy discussions on CTE staffing, workforce alignment, and the long-term stability of the CTE teaching workforce in high-demand sectors.

Author

• Kevin Austin Ganus, Florida State University
  Presenting Author