To better understand where the biggest staffing gaps will be, ProCare Therapy analyzed national employment projections to identify the school jobs expected to be most in demand in 2026. This report highlights the roles growing fastest, the positions adding the most jobs, and the jobs schools will likely have the toughest time filling in the years ahead. It’s designed to help districts plan, prepare, and prioritize the support their students need most, while also giving school professionals clear insight into where the strongest job opportunities are nationwide, based on long-term outlook and demand.

Key Findings: America’s 10 Most In-Demand School Professionals

Across all categories, health and therapy roles dominate the top of the index, reflecting increasing demand for school-based clinical support and early childhood intervention services. Roles that support behavioral needs, communication disorders, mobility, and functional development all show above-average national growth through 2034.

  1. Physical therapist assistants
  2. Speech-language pathologists
  3. Physical therapists
  4. Occupational therapists
  5. Occupational therapy assistants
  6. School social workers
  7. Substitute teachers
  8. Teaching assistants
  9. Counselors
  10. Audiologists

Breakdown of the Top 3 Highest-Demand Roles

1. Physical Therapist Assistants (PTAs)

PTAs form the backbone of school therapy teams, supporting students with physical disabilities, mobility challenges, or recovery needs. Their rapid growth signals a continued rise in early mobility therapy demand.

  • Employment Change: +24,500 jobs from 2024-2034, the third-largest increase of all occupations studied.
  • Job Outlook: +22% growth, the highest growth percentage on the list and significantly faster than the national average. The BLS additionally ranks PTAs as the 7th fastest-growing occupation nationally.
  • Annual Job Openings: Roughly 19,800 openings per year, the 8th highest volume of openings among studied roles.

2. Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs)

Communication disorders, autism diagnoses, language delays, and literacy interventions continue to increase demand for school SLPs. Many districts already face shortages, and projections indicate that demand will remain elevated for the decade.

  • Employment Change: +28,200 jobs, second-highest increase among all analyzed occupations.
  • Job Outlook: +15% growth, the third-highest growth rate of the occupations studied.
  • Annual Job Openings: About 13,300 openings per year, the 10th highest among reviewed roles.

3. Physical Therapists (PTs)

PTs provide essential services to students with disabilities, injuries, and chronic conditions that require long-term mobility and functional support. Their growing presence signals sustained investment in student accessibility and inclusion initiatives.

  • Employment Change: +29,300 jobs, the highest overall employment increase of all occupations scored.
  • Job Outlook: +10.9% growth, significantly above average and fifth-highest among roles analyzed.
  • Annual Job Openings: Roughly 13,200 openings per year, the 11th highest among occupations studied.

State-Level Demand Outlook

Using Projections Managing Partnership (PMP) data, ProCare identified the states projected to experience the highest percentage growth in the education occupations included in the School Workforce Demand index between 2022 and 2032. These top-performing states are experiencing rapid population growth, school enrollment expansion, and increased demand for specialized student services, driving strong hiring projections.

Top 10 States by Projected Education Job Growth

  1. Utah – 29.95%
  2. Nevada – 23.58%
  3. Idaho – 21.53%
  4. New York – 20.726%
  5. Tennessee – 20.725%
  6. Colorado – 19.81%
  7. Florida – 17.99%
  8. Texas – 17.542%
  9. Washington – 17.538%
  10. Arizona – 15.79%

Top 3 States for Education Job Growth: Most In-Demand Jobs

1. Utah

  • Employment Change: Teaching assistants lead the state with +3,230 projected jobs added between 2022-2032.
  • Fastest-Growing Role: Physical therapist assistants, with a remarkable 67.7% projected growth.
  • Annual Job Openings: Teaching assistants again top the list, with roughly 2,510 openings per year.

2. Nevada

  • Employment Change: Elementary school teachers gain the largest number of new positions (+620).
  • Fastest-Growing Role: School psychologists, with a 200% projected growth,the single highest job outlook across all states.
  • Annual Job Openings: Elementary school teachers lead with roughly 820 openings per year.

3. Idaho

  • Employment Change: Elementary school teachers lead with +1,190 new positions.
  • Fastest-Growing Role: Occupational therapy assistants, projected to grow 45%.
  • Annual Job Openings: Teaching assistants lead with about 1,070 openings per year.

School Therapy Professionals Remain in High Demand

The 2026 School Workforce Demand Index shows a clear trend: clinical, therapeutic, and student-support roles remain among the most difficult for districts to hire and retain. The highest-demand occupations, PTAs, SLPs, PTs, OTs, and OTAs, reflect a growing emphasis on early intervention, accessibility, student wellness, and individualized support.

As schools prepare for the years ahead, the need for skilled, passionate professionals has never been greater. If you’re considering your next career move or looking for a role where you can truly make a difference, now is the perfect time to explore unique opportunities.

From therapy and behavioral support positions to classroom-based roles and specialized education careers, ProCare is here to help you find a job that aligns with your goals, your lifestyle, and your passion for helping students thrive. Discover openings nationwide and take the next step toward a meaningful, lasting impact today.

Methodology

To identify the most in-demand school professionals for 2026, ProCare analyzed national employment projections from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for the period 2024-2034. Three forward-looking indicators were selected to represent overall demand for each occupation: employment percent change, employment change (number of jobs gained or lost), and average annual openings. Together, these capture growth momentum, the scale of workforce expansion or decline, and the volume of hiring districts can expect each year due to both new positions and replacement needs.

Each metric was normalized using a 0-10 scoring scale, and the three scores were added to create a total possible Overall Demand Score of 30 points, with each factor weighted equally at 10 points. Higher scores reflect occupations with stronger projected growth, larger increases in available positions, and more annual hiring activity. Normalization ensures fairness across metrics with different ranges, and all values were sourced directly from the same BLS dataset for consistency and reproducibility.

Occupations Analyzed:

  • Audiologists
  • Child, family, and school social workers
  • Educational, guidance, and career counselors and advisors
  • Elementary school teachers, except special education
  • Interpreters and translators
  • Kindergarten teachers, except special education
  • Middle school teachers, except special and career/technical education
  • Occupational therapists
  • Occupational therapy assistants
  • Physical therapist assistants
  • Physical therapists
  • School psychologists
  • Secondary school teachers, except special and career/technical education
  • Special education teachers, kindergarten and elementary school
  • Special education teachers, middle school
  • Special education teachers, secondary school
  • Speech-language pathologists
  • Substitute teachers, short-term
  • Teaching assistants, except postsecondary