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Mapping the SEN Demand Across Indian States: Where Jobs Are Growing Fastest

20th December 2025

India’s education landscape is rapidly shifting toward inclusion, backed by strong policy foundations and growing awareness among parents and educators. Yet despite progress, inclusive education remains a work in progress, with children with special needs still underrepresented and often underserved in mainstream classrooms.

National-level data shows that around 2.1 million children with special needs (CWSN-Children with Special Needs) were enrolled in schools in 2023-24, representing just 0.86% of total enrolment, compared with the goal of 2.5–3% set under national policy frameworks.

For educators seeking to make a meaningful impact, this gap translates into expanding opportunities across regions and roles, provided teachers possess the necessary skills and training.

In this blog, we’ll map the fastest-growing areas for SEN demand across Indian states, explore where jobs are concentrated, and what this means for professionals trained in Special Needs Education for Teachers in India.

What’s Powering SEN Job Growth in India?

Several factors are driving demand for Special Education Needs (SEN) professionals across the country:
 

• Inclusive Education Mandates: Policies such as NEP 2020 and the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act promote mainstreaming of learners with disabilities.
   
• Growing Census of CWSN: India has millions of children with disabilities, including approximately 78.6 lakh under age 5.
   
• Awareness & Diagnosis: Increasing identification of learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, and developmental delays pushes schools to recruit trained educators.
   
• Enrollment Challenges: Only around 61% of children with disabilities aged 5–19 attend school, indicating a continued need for advocacy, support, and staffing.

These structural and demographic drivers are creating real job openings for educators equipped to work in inclusive settings.

Top Indian States Where SEN Jobs Are Growing Fastest

Let’s examine where the demand for SEN roles is becoming most pronounced.

1. Maharashtra

Maharashtra consistently ranks as one of the top states for SEN employment opportunities, driven by its dense concentration of private, international, and inclusive schools. Cities like Mumbai, Pune, Thane, Navi Mumbai, and Nagpur account for a significant share of SEN-related job postings across India.

According to UDISE+ data (2023–24), Maharashtra has one of the highest enrollments of Children With Special Needs (CWSN) in mainstream schools, reflecting both better identification and stronger inclusion practices compared to many other states. This directly translates into sustained demand for trained SEN professionals.

Why SEN Demand Is Exceptionally High in Maharashtra

Several structural and social factors make Maharashtra a frontrunner in SEN hiring:
 

• High concentration of private and international schools following CBSE, ICSE, IB, and Cambridge curricula, many of which maintain dedicated inclusion or learning support departments
   
• Strong parental awareness, especially in urban centres, is leading to demand for in-school SEN support rather than external interventions
   
• Presence of therapy centres, child psychologists, and multidisciplinary clinics that collaborate closely with schools

Job portals such as Shine, Naukri, and LinkedIn regularly list hundreds of active openings for special educators and learning support professionals in Maharashtra, often with year-round recruitment rather than seasonal hiring cycles.

Most In-Demand SEN Roles in Maharashtra

Schools and educational organisations across the state are actively recruiting for:
 

• Special Educators (Autism, Learning Disabilities, ADHD)
• Learning Support Teachers in Inclusive Classrooms
• Shadow Teachers for primary and early years students
• SEN Coordinators in larger school chains
• Remedial and Resource Room Teachers

Salary data from education job listings indicates that trained SEN educators in Maharashtra often earn higher-than-average entry salaries, especially in Mumbai and Pune, compared to many other Indian states, reflecting both demand and institutional capacity.

City-Wise SEN Demand Snapshot
 

• Mumbai & Navi Mumbai: High demand in international schools, premium private schools, and early intervention centres
• Pune: Rapid growth due to expansion of CBSE, IB, and Cambridge schools
• Thane: Increasing SEN hiring aligned with suburban school development
• Nagpur & Nashik: Emerging SEN markets with growing private school networks

What This Means for SEN Professionals

For educators trained in inclusive education, Maharashtra offers:
 

• Consistent job availability, not limited to metro-only hiring
• Career progression pathways, from classroom support to SEN coordination roles
• Opportunities to work in well-resourced, structured inclusion systems

This makes Maharashtra an ideal starting point and long-term base for professionals building careers in special education and inclusive teaching.

2. Delhi NCR

Delhi NCR (Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad) is one of the largest SEN employment zones in India. Job portals regularly show hundreds of active listings for special educators, SEN coordinators, and teaching assistants across private and international schools.

What makes Delhi NCR a strong SEN market:
 

• Large school chains with dedicated inclusion departments
• CBSE’s emphasis on inclusive education and school-level compliance
• High parent demand for in-school SEN support instead of external tutoring

Key SEN roles growing fast:
 

• Special educators (primary & secondary levels)
• SEN coordinators
• Resource room teachers
• Counsellors with SEN expertise

Note: Delhi NCR suits educators seeking stable demand, structured school systems, and long-term career growth.

3. Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu, especially Chennai and Coimbatore, has shown steady growth in SEN roles driven by early intervention awareness and school-therapy integration. The state has been proactive in implementing inclusive education frameworks under Samagra Shiksha, leading to an increase in recruitment of trained SEN professionals.

Why The Demand is Consistent:
 

• High emphasis on early identification of learning difficulties
• A growing number of inclusive private schools
• Collaboration between schools and rehabilitation centres

Which SEN Roles are Popular:
 

• Early childhood special educators
• Learning disability intervention teachers
• Autism support educators

Note: Tamil Nadu is well-suited for educators passionate about early-stage intervention and structured SEN support.

4. Telangana

Hyderabad has rapidly become an education hub, particularly for international curriculum schools, which has directly impacted SEN hiring. Schools increasingly recognise the need for trained professionals to support diverse learners in inclusive classrooms.

What’s driving SEN growth:
 

• Expansion of IB and Cambridge schools
• Increased diagnosis of autism and learning disabilities
• Rising preference for in-school SEN support instead of external therapy

Most Popular SEN roles:
 

• Classroom support teachers
• Shadow teachers
• Learning support assistants

Note: Telangana is ideal for SEN educators seeking fast growth and emerging opportunities.

5. Kerala

Kerala’s education system is known for its high literacy rates and strong parental involvement, which has translated into growing demand for quality SEN support—especially in urban centres like Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram.

Why the SEN demand is meaningful here:
 

• Strong societal awareness around child development
• Parent-led advocacy for inclusive education
• Focus on quality over volume in SEN hiring

Key opportunities include:
 

• Learning support educators
• Behaviour intervention specialists
• Inclusive education trainers

Note: Kerala suits SEN professionals who value depth, quality, and impact over sheer volume.

6. Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh presents a mixed but important SEN landscape. While rural access remains limited, urban centres like Noida, Ghaziabad, and Lucknow show increasing SEN hiring, especially in private and CBSE schools.

What the data shows:
 

• Government-run special schools exist, but teacher shortages remain high
• Media reports highlight gaps between the number of CWSN (Children with Special Needs) and trained educators, signalling unmet demand

Growing SEN roles:
 

• Special educators in private schools
• Resource teachers
• Inclusive education coordinators

Note: UP offers opportunities for educators willing to work in expanding but still under-served ecosystems.

7. Jharkhand

Jharkhand highlights a critical national issue. As reported by the Times of India, this state has only around 384 special educators for nearly 48,000 children with disabilities, clearly indicating a severe shortage.

What this means for SEN professionals:
 

• High unmet demand
• Growing scope for government-linked and NGO-supported roles
• Long-term opportunities as inclusion policies strengthen

Note: Jharkhand reflects where SEN professionals are needed the most, even if systems are still developing.

Quick Insight for Educators

If you’re choosing where to build your SEN career:

 

• High volume & structure: Maharashtra, Delhi NCR
• Innovation & private schools: Karnataka, Telangana
• Early intervention focus: Tamil Nadu
• Quality-driven roles: Kerala
• High need & future scope: Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand

SEN Skills Which Schools Are Actively Seeking

As schools scale up SEN support, some of the most sought-after competencies include:
 

• Identification and assessment skills
• Creation and monitoring of Individualised Education Plans (IEPs)
• Differentiated instruction strategies
• Assistive technology literacy
• Behaviour intervention planning

Professionals who are prepared with both theory and real-world practice are often first in line for emerging roles.

Final Thoughts

India’s inclusive education landscape still has room to grow, but every year, more schools and regions invest in structured strategies for children with special needs. As enrolment numbers rise and policy frameworks become better implemented, the need for trained and passionate educators will only increase.

Knowing where SEN demand is growing fastest helps you make informed decisions about where to focus your career development, especially if you’re pursuing special education courses in India or planning to specialise in inclusive teaching. With the right skills and qualifications, you can be part of shaping an education system that truly includes and empowers every learner.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why is the demand for SEN educators increasing in India?

Rising awareness, better diagnosis, inclusive education mandates, and enrolment gaps for children with disabilities are driving sustained demand.

2. Which Indian states currently show the highest SEN job growth?

Maharashtra, Delhi NCR, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, and Kerala show strong demand, while states like Jharkhand reveal critical shortages.

3. Are SEN job opportunities limited to metro cities?

No. While metros lead hiring, tier-2 cities and under-resourced states are seeing growing demand due to inclusion gaps and policy expansion.

4. What SEN roles are most in demand across states?

Special educators, learning support teachers, shadow teachers, SEN coordinators, and inclusive education facilitators are most sought after.

5. How does government data help predict SEN job growth?

Indicators like CWSN(Children with Special Needs) enrolment, dropout rates, infrastructure access, and teacher shortages directly reflect where SEN support roles are needed.

6. Does NEP 2020 influence SEN employment trends?

Yes. NEP 2020’s focus on inclusion has increased accountability for schools, leading to higher recruitment of trained SEN professionals.

7. Are shortages of special educators common in India?

Yes. Multiple states report severe shortages compared to the number of children with disabilities, indicating long-term job potential.

Written By: Sonal Agrawal