Recruitment and Retention in Speech -- Language

Addressing the Significant Shortage in the ProfessionSpeech-language pathologists (SLPs) are in high demand throughout the United States. The U.S. division of Labors Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that the United States will need about 141, 400 SLPs through the year 2018 to meet the increasing need in the profession and to replace retiring SLPs (2011, p. 2). The demand for qualified professional in the field continues to rise from year to year. According to the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2011-2012 Edition, employment is evaluate to grow 19% in the profession in the next decade (p. 2). A report released in 2008 by the American Association for Employment in Education (AAEE) reported SLPs are ranked 14th in the nation for fields with a considerable vacancy as related to other areas in education (p. 8). In the state of Nebraska, the U.S. Department of Education listed speech language pathology as a significant teacher shortage area (2011, p. 58). Recruiting and retaining qualified professionals has squeeze school districts across the nation. The frustrations of many SLPs are similar job dissatisfaction, lack of sufficient compensation, and oversized workloads contribute to the professional shortage. Research suggests that lack of recognition, few opportunities for promotion, immoderate paperwork, loss of autonomy, lack of supplies, low pay, and stressful interpersonal interactions all contributed to teachers decisions to leave the schools (Blood, Ridenour, Thomas, Qualls, & Hammer, 2002, p. 283).Job satisfaction is the terminology used to describe whether employees are happy and well-provided and fulfilling their desires and needs at work (Heathfield, n.d., para. 1). Many SLPs struggle to... ...d, S. (n.d.) Employee satisfaction. Retrieved on November 26, 2011 fromhttp//humanresources.about.com/od/employeesurvey1/g/employee_satisfy.htm.Palacio, M. (2001). Successful strategies for addressing caseload issues. Advance for Speech-L anguage Pathologists & Audiologists, February 2001. Retrieved from http//speech-language-pathology-audiology.advanceweb.com/Article/Successful-Strategies-for-Addressing-Caseload-Issues.aspx.Psychosocial support. (n.d.). Retrieved on November 27, 2011 from http//www.ovcsupport.net/s/index.php?i=59.U.S. Department of Education. (2011). Teacher shortage area nationwide list. Retrieved on November 26, 2011 from http//www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/pol/tsa.pdf.U.S. Department of Labor (2011). Occupational outlook handbook. Retrieved on November 22, 2011 from http//www.bls.gov/oco/pdf/ocos099.pdf .