Graduates thinking about entering a career in teaching should only go into the profession if they feel it is their vocation in life.

Elspeth Farrar of the Association of Graduate Careers Advisory Services said the ongoing worldwide credit crunch could fuel an increase in applications for teaching posts as companies in some other sectors reduced their graduate development programs.

However, she said, they should only enter a career in teaching as a "positive choice" and not because employment opportunities are restricted elsewhere, because successful teachers are "committed and feel that it is their vocation".

According to the US Department of Labor, teachers at all levels of the education system play an important role in "fostering the intellectual and social development" of their students.

It adds that seeing pupils grow and learn new skills can also make teaching a "very rewarding" career.

In 2006, DOL figures show there were 4 million teachers in the United States. This was projected to grow by 479,000 by 2016.

Median earnings for educators in kindergarten, elementary, middle and secondary schools in May 2006 varied from $43,580 to $48,690 based on location and job specifics.