The Accounting Pipeline Shortage: Are We Making Progress? Evidence on Workload, Job Satisfaction, and Compensation

SYNOPSIS The accounting profession faces a persistent pipeline shortage, with steep declines in graduates and CPA candidates raising concerns about audit quality, tax compliance, and financial reporting. Compensation and work-life balance concerns are often cited as reasons for the shortage. Using a novel dataset of 14,652 individual-year observations from 2021 to 2024, we document recent trends in real compensation, average weekly hours, and the link between workload and job satisfaction. Results show a significant decrease in weekly hours of 2.3 per week (4.7 percent), with reductions across the board but largest among mid-level staff and non-Big 4 firms. Our results also show fewer hours are associated with higher job satisfaction. By contrast, real compensation has decreased $3,686 (3.7 percent), with the sharpest declines at senior levels and in the consulting service line. Our findings highlight both progress and limits: firms are easing workload pressures, but continued declines in real compensation may hinder long-term retention. Data Availability: Data are available from the authors upon request. JEL Classifications: M12; M40; M41; M42.