Higher Wages for Teflers On the Horizon?
Hi TeacherDom,
ACE might be fairly immune, but if so I don't think it is ONLY because "Their bread and butter was always milking the NGOs and that racket just goes from strength to strength." Certainly NGO's, Embassies, international scholarships and international business contracts are ACE;s current cushion and past bread and butter. However, by students numbers (not % of profit?) the huge majority of 2019 ACE students were not in those groups.
(Just my take on it) In the early 90's IDP was owned by Australian Uni's and colleges, primarily to bring students to Australia and export Australian training project expertise. Higher education was seen as a valuable target of Aus. Govt support and voters were behind it. R. Regan, Thatcher, and small gov promoters worldwide were winning Australia ditto. Higher ed. support was cut and IDP suddenly needed to earn $ to survive. ACE helped. Post conflict zones have unspoken for $$ floating around, and ACE tapped some of that. It did a good job doing a good thing. If it helped development $ burn rate, that was a big plus. Good work over 20 years = a solid Brand, a sellable brand. Ten years ago, half-ish (I don't know?) was sold. Then, the thought must have gone, if 5 or 7k students each paying around $1,000/year - on top of the income noted above - why not grow to 15- 40,000 private students paying that 1,000. Maybe someone else can say if ACE (Just Cambodia, not sisters in Vietnam and elsewhere) was taking in $50 million tuition/year by end 2019, but suffice it to say their national expansion plans were well on track.
Cambodian elite, like elite worldwide, got richer, asset wise, in this pandemic. The aspirational rich, mostly the reverse. ACE can't grow now, and their full plans will be delayed. Except when pompously spouting on an unread forum, I am often wrong, but I guess Vietnam and Cambodia will be doing well in 2023 and ACE's expansion will be revised, but moving forward.
Timing, hiring, and wages? No clear idea. Hence this thread.
ACE might be fairly immune, but if so I don't think it is ONLY because "Their bread and butter was always milking the NGOs and that racket just goes from strength to strength." Certainly NGO's, Embassies, international scholarships and international business contracts are ACE;s current cushion and past bread and butter. However, by students numbers (not % of profit?) the huge majority of 2019 ACE students were not in those groups.
(Just my take on it) In the early 90's IDP was owned by Australian Uni's and colleges, primarily to bring students to Australia and export Australian training project expertise. Higher education was seen as a valuable target of Aus. Govt support and voters were behind it. R. Regan, Thatcher, and small gov promoters worldwide were winning Australia ditto. Higher ed. support was cut and IDP suddenly needed to earn $ to survive. ACE helped. Post conflict zones have unspoken for $$ floating around, and ACE tapped some of that. It did a good job doing a good thing. If it helped development $ burn rate, that was a big plus. Good work over 20 years = a solid Brand, a sellable brand. Ten years ago, half-ish (I don't know?) was sold. Then, the thought must have gone, if 5 or 7k students each paying around $1,000/year - on top of the income noted above - why not grow to 15- 40,000 private students paying that 1,000. Maybe someone else can say if ACE (Just Cambodia, not sisters in Vietnam and elsewhere) was taking in $50 million tuition/year by end 2019, but suffice it to say their national expansion plans were well on track.
Cambodian elite, like elite worldwide, got richer, asset wise, in this pandemic. The aspirational rich, mostly the reverse. ACE can't grow now, and their full plans will be delayed. Except when pompously spouting on an unread forum, I am often wrong, but I guess Vietnam and Cambodia will be doing well in 2023 and ACE's expansion will be revised, but moving forward.
Timing, hiring, and wages? No clear idea. Hence this thread.
Looked back at kungfufighter's OP and his graph, Native English Teacher Relative Earnings 2000-2019. I know there is some truth to it, expat teacher pay in Cambodia certainly did retreat slightly in the first 5 years of the millennium as more and more teachers decided Cambodia was a relatively safe and easy place to live and work. But 1) did wages continue to fall at nearly the same pace right to 2019? (Or, did "Relative" in the title mean relative to inflation of expenses?)
I though expat teacher wages in Cambodia were about flat 2005 to 2020.
And competent teachers now, should certainly expect a 10% raise sometime this year. (Maybe only 10% (more?) because' Government' costs are much higher: regulation compliance doubled admin staff in ten years, and numerous fees, payments and taxes.)
The OP seemed to wonder if rates would go up by 50% at the end of the Pandemic. Can't see it, but I guess all good schools WILL need to pay more than in 2019. Exactly when will probably depend on how hard the pandemic hurt each school. 2) Has your school given teacher raises yet? How much?
I though expat teacher wages in Cambodia were about flat 2005 to 2020.
And competent teachers now, should certainly expect a 10% raise sometime this year. (Maybe only 10% (more?) because' Government' costs are much higher: regulation compliance doubled admin staff in ten years, and numerous fees, payments and taxes.)
The OP seemed to wonder if rates would go up by 50% at the end of the Pandemic. Can't see it, but I guess all good schools WILL need to pay more than in 2019. Exactly when will probably depend on how hard the pandemic hurt each school. 2) Has your school given teacher raises yet? How much?
Schools are competing for students more aggressively, while simultaneously trying to end hybrid lessons; I doubt any fees will rise more than 5%
The better schools (used to) offer an annual raise, but I think COVID is being used as a blind to justify salaries remaining static
Your estimate of a 10% raise is overly optimistic, imo. It fails to take into account the sudden influx of people (those traditionally viewed as NSE) unemployed or unwelcome in their home country who will accept anything: locals are very quick to notice this. I would be surprised if most got 5%. COVID losses will become the go-to excuse for refusal to hike teacher's rates whilst simultaneously raising fees for parents.
Some loon was happy to publicly post on social media that he can easily survive on $650/month wrt an advert offering $1300/month for a qualified NSE. I'm not sure that such a person, who doesn't understand that his comment will be seen by potential employers in the education sector, should be teaching anybody anything, except how to shoot oneself in one's foot.
The better schools (used to) offer an annual raise, but I think COVID is being used as a blind to justify salaries remaining static
Your estimate of a 10% raise is overly optimistic, imo. It fails to take into account the sudden influx of people (those traditionally viewed as NSE) unemployed or unwelcome in their home country who will accept anything: locals are very quick to notice this. I would be surprised if most got 5%. COVID losses will become the go-to excuse for refusal to hike teacher's rates whilst simultaneously raising fees for parents.
Some loon was happy to publicly post on social media that he can easily survive on $650/month wrt an advert offering $1300/month for a qualified NSE. I'm not sure that such a person, who doesn't understand that his comment will be seen by potential employers in the education sector, should be teaching anybody anything, except how to shoot oneself in one's foot.
I'd guess you are right at the lower end of the scale, but 10% isn't really anything for better qualified and experienced teachers, it just marginally improves on a decade with inflation higher than pay increases. 10% would still leave wages below Vietnam, for example, and so for better schools to keep better staff, before year end, and probably sooner, I think they'll need 10%, Plus: respect, professional development options, and etc. to hold those good staff long term.
Does anyone know how many expat English teachers were laid off in China, just before Covid, in the private Education shake up/shut down? If a good slice the above teachers, formerly in China continue to teach, but decide to work instead in SE Asia, it makes it an employers market then, as you say, 5% is more likely.
With worldwide inflation, I can't see fees or wages remaining static.
Does anyone know how many expat English teachers were laid off in China, just before Covid, in the private Education shake up/shut down? If a good slice the above teachers, formerly in China continue to teach, but decide to work instead in SE Asia, it makes it an employers market then, as you say, 5% is more likely.
With worldwide inflation, I can't see fees or wages remaining static.
Teachers with a degree/TEFL were earning $11 - 15/hour twenty years ago here.
In 2010, some lesser-know, emerging private schools were starting teachers on $1500/month
There is no logic applicable to penny-pinching owners, unfortunately, so stating the direct and glaringly obvious relationship between COL and expected salaries is just an exercise in futility.
In 2010, some lesser-know, emerging private schools were starting teachers on $1500/month
There is no logic applicable to penny-pinching owners, unfortunately, so stating the direct and glaringly obvious relationship between COL and expected salaries is just an exercise in futility.
What about bonuses instead of pay raises?
After the lean years of Covid closures, many owners may, as suggested above, be still be hesitant to raise pay hourly rates above 2019. As far as expat teachers are concerned, is an end of year bonus just as good? Would a bonus paid mid-January, e.g. of $100 per month worked in 2022 almost make up for no notable raise in 2022?
(Salaries, wages, and bonuses are all taxed, of course, but if a school could find a way to hand out bonuses 'off the books', might that make a bonus better than a raise? Asking for a friend.)
After the lean years of Covid closures, many owners may, as suggested above, be still be hesitant to raise pay hourly rates above 2019. As far as expat teachers are concerned, is an end of year bonus just as good? Would a bonus paid mid-January, e.g. of $100 per month worked in 2022 almost make up for no notable raise in 2022?
(Salaries, wages, and bonuses are all taxed, of course, but if a school could find a way to hand out bonuses 'off the books', might that make a bonus better than a raise? Asking for a friend.)
What is the supply /demand curve like for expat teachers in Cambodia now?
Though international air travel is still a mess, largely due to a shortage of competent airport staff, Border Control wise, it has now been easy to enter Cambodia for several months and many expat teachers have returned. The Cambodian economy certainly isn't sailing high, but people are working and school private education enrolment is doing firmly OK. Demand for teachers is still increasing, but what about the supply?
(It seems to me.) Though teachers can't skip across SEA's borders for jobs without some hassle, 2010 to 2019 the TEFL job market became quite integrated, with more and more teachers flowing across borders following pay rates and desired living conditions. Now, mid 2022, is this true again?
So where is Cambodia at now? Whether paid wages or salary, for competent teachers is $1,800-$2,400 still a moderately attractive Full-time TEFL salary? Or Part-time $1,000-$1,500? Is that far different from other SEA countries?
Though international air travel is still a mess, largely due to a shortage of competent airport staff, Border Control wise, it has now been easy to enter Cambodia for several months and many expat teachers have returned. The Cambodian economy certainly isn't sailing high, but people are working and school private education enrolment is doing firmly OK. Demand for teachers is still increasing, but what about the supply?
(It seems to me.) Though teachers can't skip across SEA's borders for jobs without some hassle, 2010 to 2019 the TEFL job market became quite integrated, with more and more teachers flowing across borders following pay rates and desired living conditions. Now, mid 2022, is this true again?
So where is Cambodia at now? Whether paid wages or salary, for competent teachers is $1,800-$2,400 still a moderately attractive Full-time TEFL salary? Or Part-time $1,000-$1,500? Is that far different from other SEA countries?
I always thought $1200 was the average full time salary. Do TEFL jobbers really get $2500?
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You could get that money 10 years ago, it might be more now.
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There certainly aren't many language schools paying $2500, I can't think of any. Anyway, you'd have to be doing a hell of a lot of overtime to reach that figure. Universities yes, but that's different. Most of the schools are still in recovery from 2 years of covid. Conditions and wages have hardly improved.
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One comes closeGuest5 wrote: ↑Mon Jul 18, 2022 6:35 amThere certainly aren't many language schools paying $2500, I can't think of any. Anyway, you'd have to be doing a hell of a lot of overtime to reach that figure. Universities yes, but that's different. Most of the schools are still in recovery from 2 years of covid. Conditions and wages have hardly improved.
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Basic or with loads of overtime?violet wrote: ↑Mon Jul 18, 2022 9:50 amOne comes closeGuest5 wrote: ↑Mon Jul 18, 2022 6:35 amThere certainly aren't many language schools paying $2500, I can't think of any. Anyway, you'd have to be doing a hell of a lot of overtime to reach that figure. Universities yes, but that's different. Most of the schools are still in recovery from 2 years of covid. Conditions and wages have hardly improved.
I might become a TEFLER in that case.
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Expat teachers in Cambodia are normally contracted in US dollars. Not so in Vietnam and Thailand. Does the Dollar's appreciation over the last 6 months mean wages for expats in Cambodia are now catching up to Vietnam rates?
It may be that inflation is worse in Cambodia than Vietnam or Thailand, in which case the stronger dollar only helps Cambodia's working expats when the visit outside Cambodia. Or it could be that Vietnam has been aggressively increasing expat wages to attract and retain staff, so in dollar terms teachers are maintaining the slight(?) advantage most say they had pre-pandemic.
Anyone know, or care to speculate?
It may be that inflation is worse in Cambodia than Vietnam or Thailand, in which case the stronger dollar only helps Cambodia's working expats when the visit outside Cambodia. Or it could be that Vietnam has been aggressively increasing expat wages to attract and retain staff, so in dollar terms teachers are maintaining the slight(?) advantage most say they had pre-pandemic.
Anyone know, or care to speculate?
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