Addressing the shortage of accountants: Suggestions for academe and the profession

The popular and academic press reports recent and future major decreases in accounting enrollment to the detriment to accounting faculty and the firms that hire our students. Based upon a major review of the literature and our own experiences, we discuss this matter in depth and suggest means to reverse these trends. For example, we suggest that the CPA profession stress that (1) while earning lower starting salaries, experienced accountants often earn significantly higher salaries than other business majors; and (2) accountants can more likely own equity in their employers’ businesses as compared to other, competitive business fields.

We also discuss how the (1) Generation gap’s (e.g., members of Generations X and Z) viewpoints compare to baby boomers; (2) major trends in the gig economy affect this shortage; (3) some affects of technology; and (4) need for personal growth affects this shortage—and how the profession can capitalize on these trends.

Our paper should help academe and the profession spur quality students to major in accounting and help improve the latter group attract and retain new accounting majors. After all, new, competent accounting majors form the basis for our future, if not our survival.