Teacher vacancies: which subjects and roles are most often advertised? What the figures show

Figures from the UK’s leading online school recruitment service give an insight to the subjects where schools most frequently need to recruit teachers and the roles where shortages are most acute. The figures show that, despite the cuts in school budgets, teaching is still a fairly recession-proof profession.

Subjects most in demand – and those where schools don’t need to recruit

Over 7,000 schools recruit with Eteach and of the 32,500 plus vacancies advertised since January on www.eteach.com the subject where teachers seem to be in greatest need is English, with 1,171 adverts. This was closely followed by subjects where there has traditionally been a shortage of specialist teachers: Maths, with 1,159 vacancies and Science, with 1,052 vacancies.

Four subjects have only advertised for one teacher during the past ten months. Geology and Home Economics have both been in decline since changes following the introduction of the National Curriculum. However, two subjects that might seem to have a more contemporary appeal - Communication Studies and Global Studies – have also posted just a single vacancy.

Between these extremes come Business Studies (456), Biology (510), Physical Education (571), with Design and Technology and ICT reaching almost 850. Demand for teachers of European Union languages shows French in the lead with 261 vacancies, with German and Spanish lagging at just over 100. Latin, the mother of so many languages, trails at just 20.

Roles most in demand

With 1,500 vacancies advertised, administrators were most in demand, followed by head teachers at 482. Recent press coverage over the shortage of jobs for NQTs may be reflected in the comparatively small number of vacancies – 183 - but demand for HLTAs is limited, at 114 vacancies.

Eteach Chief Executive Paul Howells said: “This is just a snapshot of part of the education recruitment sector, but anyone thinking of becoming a teacher might take these figures as an indication of the subjects where schools want to recruit teachers. The number of jobs advertised on our website is up 7% compared to last year so they should take comfort from the thought that, even in these days of reduced budgets, there are still plenty of jobs available in the profession.”