Supply & Demand

Supply and Demand
Each year the state commissions a study of the job situation in K-12 education in the state. Results of the studies over the year can be found at the DPI website.
2003 Study
(Fischer, T.A. and Swanger, W.H. (2003). Supply and Demand of Educational Personnel in Wisconsin Public Schools, 2003. Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction).
The most recent study showed that there are eight institutions in the state that provide initial licensure in library media. In the 2003 report, they had 70 total program completers. Sixty-five of these held a previous certification and 5 did not.
Keeping in mind that this report does not reflect situations in individual districts, some districts use a centralized electronic job database where it is difficult to determine number of applicants, figures include both part-time and full-time positions, and most applicants apply for more than one job, districts reported:
• 277 applicants for 52 jobs, or a ration of applications to vacanices of 5.33 (rating of average overall).
• They rated the state average rating of supply for library media specialists to be 1.72.
• 14 out of 298 districts responding rated library media as problematic shortage areas for their districts. 
School districts surveyed reported the number of vacancies in different licensure areas, the number of applicants, and then rated the supply of applicants. The demand varied greatly in different areas of the state from average to well above average demand. For a map of the supply and demand in different areas, see page 62 of the report.
2002 Study
(Swanger, W.H. and Fischer, T.A. (2002). Supply and Demand of Educational Personnel in Wisconsin Public Schools: An Examination of Data Trends, 2002. Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction).
The previous year’s study showed the following about school librarianship:
• There are eight institutions in the state that provide initial licensure in library media. In the 2002 report, they had 49 total program completers. Twenty-three of these held a previous certification and 26 did not.
• Districts reported 273 applicants for 68 vacancies, or a ratio of applications to vacancies of 4.01.
• They rated the state average rating of supply for library media specialists to be 1.488.
• Fifteen districts out of 368 responding rated library media as an area of concern.
• The demand varied greatly in different areas of the state. For an assessment of the shortage in different areas, see page 70 of the report.