Top Education Hiring Trends in 2025

As we say goodbye to 2024 and look ahead to 2025, the team at Summit Careers is keeping a close eye on hiring trends in the education sector. As the education sector continues to deal with a staffing shortage, certain trends can influence hiring in the year to come. Let’s take a look at several education hiring trends you’ll want to watch.

Promoting Diversity and Inclusion

Higher education institutions are committed to improving diversity and promoting inclusion. As student enrollment continues to become more diverse, it’s important for the faculty and staff to also represent this diversity. Statistics show that racial and ethnic minorities hold only one in five positions in higher education. Many universities are looking to diversify their staff to change that number. As academia works to promote a diverse staff, there must also be steps taken to retain these staff members by offering them the same opportunities for advancement and receiving equal pay.

Investing in Retention

It is becoming more difficult for higher education institutions to retain faculty and staff. With staff constantly on the move, it is difficult to plan for the next wave of faculty and administrators. Expect universities and colleges to become more strategic when hiring new staff members. They will focus more on finding candidates who are in line with the institution's mission, values, and vision. Those who are on the same page are more likely to remain engaged and stay longer in their positions.

Many higher education institutions are likely to focus more on full-time hires who are more likely to want long-term employment over adjunct faculty and staff.

Renewing Employee Engagement

Having faculty and staff who are not engaged is more likely to result in a high turnover rate. By focusing on renewing employee engagement, higher education institutions are more likely to retain employees. Providing new hires with opportunities for career development and growth can help to keep employees engaged and less likely to go elsewhere.

Revamping for Remote and Hybrid Work

More higher learning institutions are offering fully remote or hybrid opportunities which means the staff they are hiring need to be on-board with those situations. Those in charge of the hiring process will be looking to see that new employees are flexible and willing to adapt to this environment. Those who are not may have less of a chance to be hired.

A Focus on Well-being and Emotional Intelligence

Employers are expected to put a greater focus on well-being and emotional intelligence. Anticipate schools looking for teachers who can help students manage stress and build resilience. There is also an expected emphasis on mental health issues and the ability to identify students who need support.
Data-Driven Teaching and Personalized Learning

There is an expected focus to be on teachers who can use and analyze data to identify gaps and ensure that no student is left behind. Teachers who can use tools like Excel and Google Sheets will also be in demand. They will need to be able to analyze student performance data and adjust teaching strategies as needed.

Summit Careers is Here to Help Job Seekers and Employers in 2025

The team at Summit Careers is here to stay on top of hiring trends in 2025 to attract the most qualified candidates to fill your positions. Whether you’re looking to hire candidates or are looking for your next career in academia, Summit Careers has the resources you need. Reach out to us today to learn how we can help you make 2025 your most successful yet!

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The 5 Roles You'll Be Scrambling to Fill This Fall—And How to Hire Smarter Now

August 21, 2025

As we look ahead to fall, many companies will be busy trying to fill vacancies. While the job market is constantly shifting, there are a few areas that are expected to stand out, leaving companies scrambling to find qualified workers. If you want to get ahead, it’s important to be aware of which positions are expected to be most competitive so you can adopt smarter hiring strategies. The 5 Most In-Demand Roles This Fall Healthcare Professionals The demand for nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and health service managers continues to soar. An aging population and an increased need for quality care are the driving forces. These roles are expected to be in clinics, hospitals, and long-term care facilities to maintain high standards of patient care. Machine Learning Specialists Businesses are expected to be looking for professionals who can implement AI-powered solutions. These specialists are needed to develop and integrate everything from automated customer service chatbots to complex data analysis models. Cybersecurity Specialists As businesses become more reliant on digital infrastructure, the risk of cyber threats grows. Cybersecurity specialists, including information security analysts and engineers, are in high demand to protect sensitive data, prevent breaches, and ensure the integrity of a company's systems. Data Scientists and Analysts Companies need experts who can make sense of all the data being generated these days. Data scientists and analysts are vital for extracting meaningful insights from complex datasets to inform business decisions, optimize operations, and predict market trends. Skilled Trades and Green Economy Workers There's a persistent demand for skilled tradespeople, and a new wave of growth is being driven by the green economy. Roles like solar installers and wind turbine service technicians are experiencing rapid growth as companies and governments invest in renewable energy projects. How to Work Smarter, Not Harder, When it Comes to Hiring The traditional hiring process won't cut it when competing for top talent. You need a strategy that's both efficient and appealing to modern job seekers. Prioritize Skills Over Degrees Focus on critical skills over degree requirements. A skills-based approach widens your talent pool and allows you to find qualified individuals who may have gained experience through alternative paths, such as bootcamps, online courses, or on-the-job training. Embrace Flexibility and Employee Wellness Work balance is more important than ever. To attract and retain top talent, consider offering flexible work arrangements like remote or hybrid options. Highlighting robust health and wellness benefits, including mental health support, can also make you stand out in a competitive market. Build a Strong Talent Pipeline Proactively build relationships with passive candidates through networking and employee referral programs rather than waiting for a position to open. A robust talent pipeline ensures you're never scrambling for a hire, as you'll already have a pool of qualified individuals to draw from. A strong employer brand that showcases your company's culture and values on social media and career pages is also crucial for attracting long-term interest. Highlight Technology and Data Use technology to streamline your recruitment process. AI-powered tools can help automate tasks such as resume screening and interview scheduling. This gives your HR team more time to focus on meaningful interactions with candidates. You’ll also want to use recruitment analytics to identify trends and measure the effectiveness of your hiring sources. Do You Need Help Filling Roles this Fall? Contact Summit Careers If you need help filling vacancies this fall, Summit Careers is here to help. We have a growing database of candidates who are looking for jobs just like yours. You can count on us to use the most efficient practices to fill vacancies quickly. Contact us today to learn more.

From Vacancy to Velocity: How Fast Ancillary Hiring Drives Student Success

July 23, 2025

When you think about what contributes to a student’s success, it extends well beyond the classroom. Besides faculty members who work with students inside the classroom, many other staff members are needed for a student to be successful and well-rounded. This is why filling these positions is so vital. When these positions remain vacant for too long, the daily workflow can get disrupted, impeding a student’s success. At Summit Careers, our team is committed to filling vacant ancillary staff positions as soon as possible so that schools and universities can continue working at their fullest potential. Let’s take a closer look at how ancillary hiring truly drives student success. Contributing to Student Success: The Benefits of Filling Ancillary Vacancies Supportive Learning Environment When ancillary vacancies are filled, students can receive the supportive learning environment that they deserve. Ancillary staff, such as counselors, mentors, tutors, and others, can allow students to receive help that may not be available inside the classroom. Without the hard work of these individuals, students may lack the guidance they need to succeed. Reduce Teacher Workload It takes a village to teach a child. Much of that village can come from the help of ancillary staff members who can take some of the workload off of teachers. By doing so, teachers can focus more on teaching each child and giving them the attention they deserve. Improved Student Well-Being When we think of school staff, we may automatically think about teachers and teaching aides. But, staff members such as school nurses and guidance counselors can ensure that a student’s health and well-being are taken care of. When a student is not healthy physically or mentally, they will not be able to reach their fullest potential. But when a student is feeling well physically and in a good emotional and mental state, they have the energy and tools they need to reach for the stars. Besides nurses and guidance counselors, janitors and school cleaning staff are also vital to a student’s success because they help to maintain a sanitary learning environment. If a student is surrounded by a dirty learning environment, they are at a greater risk of becoming ill. Sickness results in lost classroom time that can negatively impact a student’s success. Technical Support We all know how much everyone relies on technology these days, especially in schools. Many lessons are available online only, and assignments are completed online. When something goes wrong on the technical side, it can impact learning. By hiring the right technical support staff, you can feel confident that you have the right people in place to spring into action when a technical problem arises. Technical support can help to fix problems before they become catastrophes that can severely impact daily operations. Social Development Social development can also contribute to a student’s success. Being involved in school clubs and activities allows students to meet others and expand their social circles. Staff who work to plan activities and coach sports play an important part in a student’s life. These staff members help students to foster their social skills, which allows them to become well-rounded individuals. Bridge Communication Gaps Communication is key when it comes to a student’s learning path. Support staff can serve as liaisons between teachers, administrators, and students. By fostering greater communication, these support staff members can contribute to a student’s success. Let Summit Careers Fill Your Ancillary Staff Vacancies Now If you have vacancies for ancillary staff members, Summit Careers is here to help. We have a growing database of candidates who are looking for jobs just like yours. We use the most efficient practices so that we can fill vacancies quickly. Contact us today and learn how we can work together to fill your vacancies and help students succeed.

The Hidden Backbone of Higher Ed: Why Your Next Great Hire Isn’t a Professor

June 26, 2025

When you think about the staff needed to run a university, your employee list extends well beyond professors. There is a hidden backbone of higher education…academic support staff, janitors, cashiers, and more that are essential to having a university system that runs efficiently. These non-faculty staff should not be overlooked because of the vital services they offer daily. As we take a closer look at the benefits these staff members bring, you can see why filling these vacancies now is more important than ever. The Importance of Non-Faculty Staff in Higher Education When we talk about non-faculty staff, we’re talking about a variety of positions. Let’s take a look at what these include and why they’re so important. Academic & Student Staff Positions Non-academic staff like counselors, advisors, and financial aid officers are necessary because they help students secure the right financial aid and navigate the many challenges that surround college life. Without these staff members, students would be lost when it comes to course selection, financial aid, and even work-study options. IT Staff We all know the importance of technology staff in higher education. Without people to troubleshoot computer and technical problems, many universities and the students they serve would be lost. Janitors & Food Service Staff Janitors and food service staff are crucial to making a university run smoothly. Without a staff of dedicated workers to maintain the university and its grounds, it won’t have the curb appeal that is essential for students to want to come to the school. This can hurt school enrollment and have damaging effects. Food service staff are just as important. Without them, students would not receive the meals they need. This includes cooks and cashiers. These roles can’t be vacant because, without them, students would not be able to eat on campus. Security Officers A college university without security officers is unsafe and will not appeal to any incoming students. Having qualified security officers is vital to maintain the safety of the campus and everyone on it. Background checks on these officers are important to ensure that they are safe for the job. Event Coordinators College events help to make college life fun for students. Event coordinators know how to plan gatherings that will draw students in and bring excitement to the campus. This helps to maintain a positive campus culture and to draw in new students, both of which are important to a thriving college campus. Student Life Staff Residence life coordinators and similar staff members are also an important part of the staffing puzzle at any university campus. These staff members ensure that students have what they need in their residence halls. They work to make sure that students are safe and help them have a positive experience. Administrative Specialists These staff members support academic departments, giving them the help they need to provide a quality education to students. Research Associates Many people don’t realize the importance of research associates. A research associate works under a faculty member to collect and analyze data, design experiments, and contribute to the development of grant proposals and research publications. Coaches Coaches are also an important part of the university staff. These staff members lead different sports teams year-round. Having people who are qualified and experienced can truly elevate a university’s athletic program. As you can see, there is a variety of staff members needed to make higher education a success. If you are looking to fill these types of roles, Summit Careers can help . We receive resumes daily from people looking to fill these roles in higher education. Let us match you with your next hire so that you can have an experienced and committed employee on your team. Reach out to us today to learn more!