WASHINGTON, D.C. – A new national survey finds deep public concern about the K-12 school workforce. Eighty-three percent of Americans express concerns about public school staff shortages, while 81 percent are worried about workforce burnout. Most Americans (89 percent) say K-12 public school staff deserve more respect, and they indicate that better pay (92 percent), healthcare benefits (89 percent) and pensions (86 percent) would help address workforce shortages.
These findings are contained in a new research report from the National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS), Americans’ Views of Public School Teachers and Personnel in the Wake of COVID-19.
The challenges facing the K-12 workforce will be discussed at the NIRS 13th Annual Retirement Policy Conference on Tuesday, March 1, 2022. The conference begins at 8:30 AM, and the education workforce panel discussion starts at 1:00 PM ET.
