Teachers in Transition
The Texas Workforce Commission and a statewide network of Workforce Solutions offices are here to assist all teachers in their efforts to find work. This page provides information to help you better navigate the workforce system including; filing for unemployment insurance, registering to look for work, finding a new job, and knowing where to go to get additional help if needed.
Teacher or school employee facing a lay-off?
- Get information about what teachers should know (PDF) about Unemployment Benefits in Texas.
- Find out how to apply for Unemployment Benefits.
Still interested in working in the education field?
- Find an up-to-date listing of available jobs for teachers and other school-related personnel.
Thinking about switching to a different career field?
- Identify non-teaching occupations for which you might have transferrable skills.
- Find out more about the occupations you are interested in such as job descriptions, education and training requirements, and labor market information by accessing the Texas CARES web tool and entering the occupational title.
- Use this information to find jobs in these fields.
- Register and search for jobs in any field using www.WorkInTexas.com.
Need additional assistance?
- Get help with employment and job-related matters and find out about other employment services or training opportunities by contacting your nearest Workforce Solutions office.
- Ask questions about WorkInTexas.com via the online message center.
- Ask about Unemployment Benefits via the online Q&A form or by phone at 1-800-939-6631.
Translating Teaching Skills into Non-Teaching Occupations
In an effort to assist teachers impacted by budget constraints and layoffs, the Texas Workforce Commission has examined the basic skills required for teaching & related occupations, and how those skills relate or transfer to non-teaching and related occupations. This information provides some insight into other potential career fields. Additional training or education may be required for these occupations.
Occupations List
All primary and secondary level teachers have skills that can transfer to careers in:
Instruction Coordinator/Trainer
- Instructional Coordinators
- Instructional Designers and Technologists
- Training and Development Specialists
- Training and Development Managers
- Rehabilitation Counselors
Special Education Note
Note: Special Education is teaching-related but was included anyway as it is an in-demand specialty for which school districts are hiring. Teachers may want to consider pursuing certification for this specialty.
- Special Education Teachers, Preschool, Kindergarten, and Elementary School
- Special Education Teachers, Secondary School
Primary level teachers and secondary level teachers with specialties in English, literature, or history might want to consider pursuing careers in:
Adult Literacy
- Adult Literacy, Remedial Education, and GED Teachers and Instructors
- Vocational Education Teachers, Postsecondary
- Nurse Practitioners
Counselor
- Mental Health Counselors
- Educational, Vocational, and School Counselors
- Substance Abuse and Behavioral Disorder Counselors
Social Services
- Child, Family, and School Social Workers
- Social and Human Service Assistants
- Social and Community Service Managers
- Social Workers, All Other
Recreation Programs
- Recreation Workers
- Fitness and Wellness Coordinators
Secondary level teachers in English, literature, history, computers, math and science have skills that could be used for careers in:
Research
- Social Science Research Assistants
- Market Research Analysts
Writing/Editing
- Writers and Authors
- Copy Writers
- Technical Writers
- Editors
Secondary level teachers with specialties in computers, math and sciences might want to consider pursuing careers in:
Technical
- Computer Systems Analysts
- Computer Operators
- Computer Support Specialists
- Network and Computer Systems Administrators
- Telecommunications Specialists
- Quality Control Systems Managers
- Quality Control Analysts
- Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
Please note: This is not meant to be an exhaustive list of jobs for which you may be qualified outside teaching. Rather this is intended to help you begin to think beyond the label of "teacher" and to understand other options. Some of these careers may require additional training and/or education.
How to Use This Information to Find Jobs on WorkInTexas.com
Above is a short list of non-teaching occupations that utilize some of the same knowledge and skills as primary and secondary teaching jobs. This is not meant to be a complete list of jobs for which you may be qualified but rather to help you begin to think beyond the label of "teacher."
TWC's online web tool www.WorkInTexas.com makes it easy to find jobs in any field. Registration and use of the system are completely free to job seekers so, if you aren't signed up, register today.
To search for one of the occupations above or any other type of job, click on the Browse Jobs tab and enter a career title in the Enter Text box to access any job postings containing that word or phrase. It also returns job postings with occupations related to the entered word or phrase. So, you might not see your word in the job title or description because it was part of the description for the occupation.
Be creative in the words or phrases you use in searching for jobs.
If you are registered with WorkInTexas.com, are logged on, and match to the requirements of the job, you can view the contact instructions for the job posting.