Special Education Teachers

The field of special education is expected to grow by 3 percent through 2028, according to the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), or more slowly than the average for all careers. The coronavirus pandemic has changed the way teachers work, with many, including those in special education, teaching online classes from their homes until schools are safe to reopen. The long-term effect of the pandemic is yet to be determined but special education teachers will continue to be needed to educate special needs students. The DOL reports that job opportunities may be better for those with "experience with early childhood intervention and skills in working with students who have multiple disabilities, severe disabilities, or autism spectrum disorders."

In the years to come, demand will grow for special education teachers because of the increase in the number of special education students needing services. Medical advances resulting in more survivors of illness and accidents, a rise in birth defects, increased awareness and understanding of learning disabilities, and general population growth are also significant factors for strong demand. Because of the rise in the number of youths with disabilities under the age of 21, the government has given approval for more federally funded programs. Growth of jobs in this field has also been influenced positively by legislation emphasizing training and employment for individuals with disabilities and a growing public awareness and interest in those with disabilities.

Employment for special education teachers at the preschool level will grow faster than the average through 2028, about 8 percent, because children with disabilities are being identified earlier and placed into special education programs.

Finally, there is a fairly high turnover rate in this field, as some special education teachers find the work too stressful and switch to mainstream teaching or change jobs altogether. Many job openings will arise out of a need to replace teachers who leave their positions. There is a shortage of qualified teachers in rural areas and in the inner city. Jobs will also be plentiful for teachers who specialize in speech and language impairments, learning disabilities, and early childhood intervention. Bilingual teachers with multicultural experience will be in high demand.