Heldrich Center Publishes Legislative Report on New Jersey’s Teacher Workforce

August 14, 2026

Teachers play a vital role in both the U.S. economy and society by fostering youth development and supporting student learning throughout their K–12 education. However, the profession comes with significant challenges, beginning with the hurdles of obtaining proper certifications and securing a position. In recent years, local and national reports have also highlighted growing concerns about teacher supply and demand, particularly in specific subject areas. This report provides a high-level overview of New Jersey’s teacher workforce at the state and district levels. While research in this area is progressing, questions remain about the overall supply and demand of the teaching workforce and about the factors that influence teachers’ decisions to enter or remain in teaching positions. This report explores these challenges by addressing the requirements outlined in Chapter 394 of Public Law 2021 (P.L. 2021, c. 394) and providing insights into supply and demand, and the composition of the teacher workforce.

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