Figure C
Bus drivers, teachers, and school custodians have experienced particularly large declines in employment during the pandemic: Percent change in employment levels from October 2019 to October 2021 for select K–12 public education occupations
| Occupations | Percent Change, Oct 2019 – Oct 2021 |
|---|---|
| All public K–12 employment | -4.7% |
| Teaching assistants | -2.6% |
| School custodians | -6.0% |
| Teachers | -6.8% |
| Bus drivers | -14.7% |
Notes: Data reflect the 12-month average in employment ending in October 2021 relative to the 12-month average of employment ending in October 2019.
Source: Economic Policy Institute analysis of BLS Current Employment Statistics series and Current Population Survey microdata.
This chart appears in:
- Raising pay in public K-12 schools is critical to solving staffing shortages: Federal relief funds can provide a down payment on long-needed investments in the education workforce
- Raising pay in public K–12 schools is critical to solving staffing shortages: Federal relief funds can provide a down payment on long-needed investments in the education workforce
- One year in, the American Rescue Plan has fueled a fast recovery: Policymakers should use remaining ARPA funds in 2022 to make transformative investments that will build a more equitable economy
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