Teaching graduates' struggle | Hawkes Bay News | Local News in Hawkes Bay

New Zealand's ageing workforce and economic situation is affecting teaching graduates' ability to find teaching work.

Sarah Bryant, of Twyford, who completed a Bachelor of Arts at Victoria University and subsequently a teaching diploma at the Eastern Institute of Technology, was well aware of the issue facing beginning teachers.

"Even if you think you have a chance, you probably don't," she said.

"The average age of a teacher in New Zealand is 47, which shows how hard it is for us to get in. Really the crux of it is no one wants to retire even though there are heaps of us graduating."

That perspective is backed up by Mark Johnson, president of the Hawke's Bay Primary Principals' Association and principal of Greenmeadows School.

"There are a lot of beginning teachers that are finding it difficult to get jobs. Schools do not appear to be targeting beginning teachers for employment as they did 10 years ago."

Mr Johnson also believed the struggle resulted from the economic recession.

"It's a reflection of the economic situation at the moment. More people are sticking with their teaching jobs whereas previously they may have been more inclined to leave the workforce earlier."

While Ms Bryant acknowledged some "very lucky" graduates had jobs, she said most of the graduates in her class were looking for work and there was talk of going to Work and Income.

While Ms Bryant wasn't sure when the situation would look brighter for teaching graduates, Mr Johnson said it could be around 10 years away.

"We will get to the stage where large numbers will retire. Hopefully the quality of teachers here at the moment will be there in 10 years.

"It's an important issue and something that the profession needs to have a good look at."

PPTA Hawke's Bay regional chair Jan Torrey said Hawke's Bay was traditionally an area that people were reluctant to move from, and as a result there were fewer jobs available.

The issue was far from being limited to Hawke's Bay, and Ms Torrey said because of the struggling economy people were holding off leaving the system because of the uncertainty.

"The flipside of this is the danger that there will be a mass exodus from the teaching profession when the economy picks up."