Survey Demonstrates Strength of Educational Consulting in Face of Recession
In a recent survey of more than 250 IECA member educational consultants, over half indicated little impact on their client base as a result of the current economic recession. In fact 23% of respondents indicated that their consulting practice has increased as compared to a year ago, with half of these saying the increase in their practice exceeded gains of 25%.
About a third of all respondents said there was little change from last year to this year while 25% have experienced a small decline. There remained a sizable number of consultants who have been more seriously impacted by the current recession, including 4% who saw over half their work disappear. These consultants are largely located in those areas where the economy has been most severely impacted, including portions of the Midwest and California.
The survey was conducted among members of the Independent Educational Consultants Association in early July 2009, with nearly 250 members responding.
The complete results:
11% Practice is up by 25% or more
12% Practice is up, but by less than 25%
29% Practice is about the same as a year ago
25% Practice is down, by less than 25%
19% Practice is down by 26-50%
4% Practice is down by over 50%
Of course these figures don’t tell the whole story and it’s clear to me that the economic crisis has altered the trajectory of the growth in educational consulting, but has not derailed it. Until the economy took its nosedive, use of IECA member educational consultants was increasing at 10 – 15% annually. As I look at the results of the past year, as seen in the numbers above, I’m confident that had the economy remained good—not even great—most of those showing only a slight loss and certainly those demonstrating flat growth would have seen growth of over 10% from last year to this.
I believe that once the economy is back on track we’ll again see this growth, and good, ethical, consultants—those belonging to the Independent Educational Consultants Association—will again see year-to-year growth in the 15% range.
Posted by Mark Sklarow, IECA Executive Director
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