Education Occupations

Key points for selected education occupations

• There were approximately 114,000 persons employed in the selected education-related occupations, representing 6% of total national employment.
  
• Just over 80% were at professional level.
  
• At 5.2%, employment in education-related occupations grew faster than the national average over the period 2004-2009; the number of education assistants grew the fastest between 2004 and 2008, although it has declined since 2008.
  
• Between 2004 and 2009, a net 25,000 jobs were created: professional posts (primary/nursery and secondary/vocational) and educational assistant posts accounted for just over 60% and 30% of this jobs growth respectively.
  
• At 40%, educational assistants had the lowest share of third level graduates among the selected occupations.
  
• Just over one in three careers advisors is 55 years or older — one of the highest shares among associate professional occupations.
  
• Approximately 16% of those employed as university and IoT lecturers were non-Irish nationals.

Shortage Indicators

There is no evidence of a shortage of education and training professionals at present. It should be noted, however, that 40 university and institute of technology lecturers were sourced from the non-EEA area in 2009. 

Demand for education and training professionals is expected to be driven by the projected increase in the number of new entrants at all NFQ levels in the coming years (DES 2010 Projections of Full Time Enrolment at Primary, Second and Third Level, 2008-2030).  Some of the factors driving demand include:

• With the exception of 1999 and 2005, the number of births increased steadily during the period 1995-2008.
  
• High unemployment and the need to preserve skills and up-skill.
  
• The emergence of structural unemployment and the need to re-direct certain segments of the labour force (e.g. construction workers) into alternative careers.