October 08, 2026
Online job advertisements in Michigan increased slightly in August 2026 to 215,000, up from 214,500 in July. Of these, nearly 86,000 advertisements were new, meaning they did not carry over from previous months. Over the past year, total monthly online job advertisements averaged 208,700, which was notably higher than the September 2024–August 2025 period (181,700 average).
Online job advertisements for Elementary and secondary schools hit their highest level in the past five years with nearly 6,000 ads in August 2026. This level of ads made it the second-most posted industry during the month, behind General medical and surgical hospitals. Monthly advertisements have increased in this industry each month since December 2025.
Author:
Elementary and Secondary Schools Monthly Job Advertisement Time Series in Michigan
Source: The Conference Board-Lightcast Help Wanted OnLine®
The minimum education level listed in most ads for the industry is a bachelor’s degree or higher. There are a small number of ads with a minimum of an associate degree listed but a high school diploma or equivalent makes up the second largest share of ads.
The most posted occupation in August was Teaching assistants (830 ads) who work with a licensed teacher to provide additional attention and instruction to students. The occupation typically does not require a postsecondary degree and is paid a median salary of $35,110 in Michigan. Other top posted occupations in the industry included Secondary school teachers (710 ads); Elementary school teachers (470 ads); Special education teachers (420 ads); and Education administrators (170 ads). Each of the additional occupations typically require a bachelor’s degree or higher for entry and are paid median salaries between $65,110 (elementary teacher) and $104,020 (administrator) in Michigan.
A variety of skills and certifications are sought after for those working in Elementary and secondary schools. Baseline skills are considered foundational and are skills that cut across a variety of occupations. The top baseline skills listed for the industry in August were teaching, communication, coaching, planning, and leadership. The top specialized skills were special education, applicant tracking systems, student services, individualized education programs (IEPs), and classroom management. These are skills that are considered job specific. Certifications are designated credentials earned by an individual to verify skills or knowledge gained to perform a job. Some of the top credentials requested in August were teaching certificate, CPR certification, first aid certification, alternative teacher certification, and no child left behind act (NCLB) standards.
More information about Michigan job advertisements can be found using the Michigan Online Job Advertisement Dashboard.
