Changes in Workforce Size

The size of the higher ed workforce changes from year to year as the result of hiring, separations, retirements, and other events. To track those changes, CUPA-HR collects total employee headcount in its higher education workforce surveys. This page, updated annually, features workforce size changes since 2016.

In 2024, full-time staff headcounts increased 6.5%, continuing the growth following three years of declines seen during the pandemic years (2019 to 2021). This marks the largest percentage increase in full-time staff over the past decade, surpassing the record set just last year. Typically, changes in full-time staff numbers are small, making two consecutive years of sizable increases especially notable. In contrast, part-time staff headcounts declined by 8% in 2024, matching last year’s decline.

Faculty headcounts showed modest growth in 2024. Non-tenure-track faculty numbers increased by nearly 4%, reflecting a return to typical growth after almost no growth last year. After several years of post-pandemic decline, tenure-track faculty headcounts increased for the first time since the pandemic, rising by 1%. Adjunct faculty headcounts, which saw sharp growth in the post-pandemic years through 2022, held essentially steady this year, rising by just 0.1%.

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“Staff” include any employees of the institution who are not faculty — administrators, professionals, and hourly workers.

To assess changes in size for specific positions, departments, or disciplines, subscribe to DataOnDemand.

 

 

Methodology

Data are based on headcounts reported in the Institutional Basics section of CUPA-HR’s annual workforce surveys with an effective date of November 1 in the fall of each academic year. The academic year is denoted by the first part of the year (e.g., “2024” refers to the 2024-25 academic year). For example, percentage change for 2024 is based on the headcount change between November 1, 2023, and November 1, 2024. Only institutions providing institutional basics information in both years of the comparison were included in the analysis.

The overall number of institutions analyzed is at least 954 for each year included on the graphic.