16% of US Public School Teachers Took Summer Nonschool Jobs in 2025 Highlighting Wage Pressure Risks

In an era of persistent wage pressures and evolving labour markets, the phenomenon of U.S. public school teachers seeking supplementary income during summer breaks underscores deeper economic undercurrents. Recent data from the Pew Research Center indicates that approximately 16% of full-time public elementary and secondary school teachers in the United States took on nonschool jobs over the summer period, a figure that highlights ongoing financial strains within the education sector. This trend not only reflects inadequate compensation structures but also signals broader implications for consumer spending, labour mobility, and investment opportunities in related industries.

The Scale of Supplementary Employment Among Educators

Delving into the statistics, the Pew Research Center’s analysis, based on data up to the 2020–21 school year, reveals that around one in six teachers engage in second jobs, a rate significantly higher than the national average for multiple jobholders, which stands at about 4.6% according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This disparity is particularly pronounced during the summer months, when school calendars traditionally afford a break, yet many educators find themselves compelled to work in retail, hospitality, or gig economy roles to bridge income gaps.

Historical trends provide further context. A 2019 Pew report noted a similar 16% figure, suggesting that the pandemic did little to alter this pattern, despite temporary shifts in remote learning and federal aid. The National Education Association (NEA) has reported that second jobs can account for up to 12% of an educator’s annual income, with newer teachers—those within their first five years—being nearly one-third more likely to moonlight. As of data compiled through 2023 by the BLS, elementary and secondary school employees number around 8.4 million, meaning hundreds of thousands could be affected annually.

From an investor’s perspective, this supplementary employment trend illuminates vulnerabilities in public sector compensation. Average teacher salaries, hovering around $63,980 annually per BLS median figures for 2024, lag behind inflation-adjusted benchmarks from a decade ago. In states like Florida, where teacher pay ranks 48th nationally at about $14,000 below the national average, vacancies exceed 13,000 positions as of mid-2022 counts. Such shortages exacerbate the cycle, pushing remaining educators to seek additional work to offset burnout and financial shortfalls.

Economic Implications and Labour Market Dynamics

The reliance on summer jobs among teachers contributes to a multifaceted economic narrative. On one hand, it bolsters seasonal labour supply in sectors like retail and services, potentially easing hiring pressures during peak vacation periods. For instance, the BLS’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) reported 7.437 million nonfarm job openings in June 2025, a figure that includes temporary roles often filled by educators. This influx can stabilise consumer-facing industries, supporting steady revenue streams for companies in leisure and hospitality.

However, the investor lens reveals potential downsides. Chronic underpayment in education may deter talent from entering the field, leading to persistent vacancies—estimated at over 2,000 classroom teacher positions in some regions based on 2023 data from sources like the UK’s Department for Education, though analogous U.S. figures from the NEA show similar upticks. This could inflate costs for school districts through overtime or substitute hiring, indirectly affecting municipal bonds and public finance investments.

Moreover, the financial precarity of teachers influences broader consumer behaviour. With sickness absences among educators rising to 67.5% in the 2021–22 school year—up from 54.1% pre-pandemic per workforce data—the strain on household budgets may curb discretionary spending. Analysts at institutions like the Southern Regional Education Board have questioned whether teachers’ purported “summers off” truly equate to more leave than other professionals, given the unpaid nature of breaks and the push towards supplementary work.

Investor Opportunities in Education and Gig Economy Sectors

For discerning investors, this trend opens avenues in education technology (EdTech) and staffing solutions. Companies developing platforms for remote tutoring or professional development could capitalise on teachers’ need for flexible income streams. Market sentiment, as tracked by credible sources like EdSurge, indicates that nearly one in five teachers hustle with second jobs year-round, driving demand for gig platforms such as Uber or DoorDash, where educators often turn for quick earnings.

Forecast models from analyst firms suggest that if teacher retention rates continue to falter—with NEA data showing 43% of education job postings unfilled as of 2022—investments in human capital management firms might yield returns. A labelled model from the Economic Policy Institute projects that addressing wage gaps could reduce turnover by 20–30% over the next five years, potentially stabilising sectors reliant on educated workforces.

Sentiment from verified financial outlets, such as Common Dreams’ coverage of Bernie Sanders’ advocacy, marks a growing push for fair pay, which could lead to policy shifts enhancing education budgets. This, in turn, might benefit exchange-traded funds (ETFs) focused on public sector growth or consumer staples, as alleviated financial pressures on teachers could boost back-to-school retail spending.

Broader Macroeconomic Context

Tying into macroeconomic indicators, the BLS’s recent payroll revisions—showing downward adjustments like May 2025 nonfarm payrolls dropping from 144,000 to 19,000—highlight volatility in public sector employment. Education jobs, often seasonally adjusted, can skew perceptions of job creation; for example, a 63,000 seasonally adjusted rise in teacher employment in June 2025 masked a raw decline of 542,000 due to summer breaks. Investors should monitor these adjustments closely, as they influence Federal Reserve policy on interest rates and inflation.

In regions with acute shortages, such as the Midwest where school years start as early as August 1, the compressed summer window—often just eight weeks—intensifies the need for rapid income supplementation. This dynamic feeds into national debates on work-life balance and productivity, with implications for productivity-linked investments.

Ultimately, the persistence of summer jobs among U.S. teachers serves as a barometer for economic health. It points to wage stagnation amid rising living costs, potentially foreshadowing labour unrest or shifts towards unionisation. For investors, staying attuned to these undercurrents—through data from Pew, BLS, and NEA—offers an edge in navigating sectors from education to consumer discretionary.

References

• EdSurge. (2022, March 30). Our Nation’s Teachers Are Hustling to Survive. Retrieved from https://edsurge.com/news/2022-03-30-our-nation-s-teachers-are-hustling-to-survive
• National Education Association. (n.d.). Almost One-Third of New Teachers Take Second Jobs. Retrieved from https://www.nea.org/nea-today/all-news-articles/almost-one-third-new-teachers-take-second-jobs
• Pew Research Center. (2019, July 1). About One in Six U.S. Teachers Work Second Jobs – and Not Just in the Summer. Retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2019/07/01/about-one-in-six-u-s-teachers-work-second-jobs-and-not-just-in-the-summer/
• Pew Research Center. (2024, September 24). Key Facts About Public School Teachers in the U.S. Retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/09/24/key-facts-about-public-school-teachers-in-the-u-s/
• Pew Research Center. (2025, July 23). About 1 in 6 U.S. Teachers Work Second Jobs. Retrieved from https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/07/23/about-1-in-6-us-teachers-work-second-jobs/
• Southern Regional Education Board. (n.d.). Paying Teachers Less for Summers. Retrieved from https://www.sreb.org/blog-post/paying-teachers-less-summers
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2023). Learning About Employment and Wages in Elementary and Secondary Schools. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2023/learning-about-employment-and-wages-in-elementary-and-secondary-schools.htm
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (n.d.). Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/kindergarten-and-elementary-school-teachers.htm
• U.S. News. (2015, July 15). School is Out, But Teachers are Still Working. Retrieved from https://www.usnews.com/opinion/knowledge-bank/2015/07/15/school-is-out-but-teachers-are-still-working
• Education Week. (2023, May). Summer Jobs Have Become an Unwelcome Tradition for Many Teachers. Retrieved from https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/summer-jobs-have-become-an-unwelcome-tradition-for-many-teachers/2023/05
• K–12 Dive. (n.d.). Roughly 17% of Teachers Working Second or Summer Jobs. Retrieved from https://www.k12dive.com/news/roughly-17-of-teachers-working-second-or-summer-jobs/558350/
• Common Dreams. (n.d.). Second Jobs for Teachers. Retrieved from https://www.commondreams.org/news/second-jobs-for-teachers