With National Unemployment Rate Over 9%, Tennessee Needs New Accountants AND Accounting Teachers

The Nashville Tennesseean reports that the faltering economy has in no way stunted the demand for accountants in the Middle Tennessee area. The article claims that accounting is growing at a rate in excess of 20%, that 90% of Middle Tennessee CPA firms will hire at the same or greater pace than next year and that Middle Tennessee University is having trouble keeping accounting faculty because of a nationwide shortage of Ph. Ds in the field. A 100% placement rate in Vanderbilt's Master's program indicates a trend towards getting master's degrees in Accountancy.

Selfishly, I would like for the Tennessean to have interviewed more universities, including Austin Peay. Selfishness aside, it is encouraging to be in a field where job opportunities abound without going through a North Dakota or Alaskan winter.