Need a Job? The Nation Needs Teachers.

For teachers looking for a job, the news is good. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for teachers is expected to grow as fast as the average for all occupations"13 percent from 2008 to 2018. That applies for kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school teachers.

Emily Feistritzer,  president of the National Center for Education Information, says job opportunities are "really a state-by-state issue," with fast-growing southern and western states offering the most prospects. In the Midwest, enrollment rates are expected to stay at the same levels, and the Northeast should actually see a decline in enrollment rates, according to The Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Another factor is population density. According to Feistritzer, the two extremes are usually where the jobs are"high-density urban or low-density rural school districts.

The best teaching subjects for job growth are mathematics, science, and bilingual education, says the Bureau of Labor Statistics report. And Feistritzer adds that special education teachers will find more open doors.

To get an edge when job searching, prospects will be best for teachers who are licensed in multiple subjects or who are bilingual. There is an increasing demand for those who can specifically teach English as a second language.

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