Labor Dynamics of School Principals in Rural Contexts

We use statewide vacancy and application data covering most job market activities from the demand (districts) and supply (principal candidates) sides for 2014 through 2016 in Wisconsin.[1] These data, provided by the Wisconsin Education Career Access Network (WECAN), includes a wide range of information, not only concerning the characteristics of vacancies (e.g., which districts post positions, what and when the positions are posted, how many applicants apply to each vacancy), but also regarding the applicants (e.g., years of educational experience, certifications, how many applications each applicant submitted). As of 2016, 83% of districts are using the WECAN system to post job vacancies; consequently, most principal candidates search and apply for positions through the system. These data are merged with staffing records administered by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction to identify hiring results and work experiences (e.g., where the applicants worked before submitting applications, whether the applicants have leadership experience within three years). <br> [1] The period 2014–2016 is the latest data based on our contract with WECAN.