The Rise and Fall of the Teaching Profession: Prestige, Interest, Preparation, and Satisfaction over the Last Half Century

Matthew Kraft and Melissa Arnold Lyon

No 32386, NBER Working Papers from National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

Abstract: We examine the state of the U.S. K-12 teaching profession over the last half century by compiling nationally representative time-series data on four interrelated constructs: occupational prestige, interest among students, the number of individuals preparing for entry, and on-the-job satisfaction. We find a consistent and dynamic pattern across every measure: a rapid decline in the 1970s, a swift rise in the 1980s extending into the mid 1990s, relative stability, and then a sustained decline beginning around 2010. The current state of the teaching profession is at or near its lowest levels in 50 years. We identify and explore a range of hypotheses that might explain these historical patterns including economic and sociopolitical factors, education policies, and school environments.

JEL-codes: I20 J21 J45 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024-04
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-his, nep-lma and nep-ure
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