Employment for religious workers not otherwise classified is expected to have little or no change through 2032, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The debate continues about whether there are enough jobs for cantors or a shortage of jobs. The perceived health of the cantor occupation is tied to some degree to the health of the particular Jewish religious movement. The number of American Jewish adults who identify as members of the Conservative movement and belong to a synagogue has declined since the early 1990s, according to the Pew Research Center.
One major trend that is related to the perceived shortage of cantor positions is that a growing number of cantors are training to become rabbis to increase their knowledge and improve their job prospects—often via online programs rather than through traditional four- or five-year seminary programs. Many congregations—faced with declining attendance and dwindling budgets—have welcomed this trend. Rabbinical councils typically do not support this online education. “There is simply no comparison between the rigor and depth of this type of experience and a correspondence course,” explained Rabbi Daniel Nevins, dean of the Jewish Theological Seminary’s rabbinical school, in an article about the trend that was published by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. “I don’t disparage the efforts of people who wish to study Torah part time and by remote access. However, I do not think it possible to adequately train rabbis—or, for that matter, physicians or engineers or any serious profession—without an extended and immersive educational experience.”