Schools Workforce

The Productivity Commission’s third phase of the Education and Training Workforce study examined the workforce of the schools sector, this research report – Schools Workforce – was released on 4 May 2012. A well-performing school system is fundamental to building Australia’s ‘human capital’ and is integral to the nation’s economic and social futures. Teachers, with the support of other school workers, play a central role in promoting positive outcomes for students and the community generally. This report, the final in a series on the education and training workforces, is concerned with the schools workforce. Two previous reports examined the workforces for vocational education and training, and early childhood development. The Commission has proposed a package of reforms for the schools workforce that gives priority to improving teacher quality and reducing teacher shortages, including to ameliorate educational disadvantage. It identifies a need to strengthen the use of evidence in policy making. In the course of its study, the Commission consulted widely within the schools sector, as well as with governments, non-government organisations and individuals. The Commission acknowledges the valuable contribution of all those who participated.