Many education systems across the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) currently face significant teacher shortages. These issues impact most member countries to varying degrees. Recruitment challenges are especially acute in mathematics and science. Moreover, remote, rural, and disadvantaged communities struggle most to find staff.
An aging teaching workforce will further exacerbate these pressures. One in four secondary teachers across the OECD is aged 55 or older. This demographic trend adds considerable urgency to future recruitment efforts.
The problem extends beyond vacant posts, which represent less than four percent of the combined primary and secondary teaching workforce in 2024-25 data from 20 systems. Shortages often concentrate in specific subjects, schools, and regions. For example, 11 of 16 countries with data reported a scarcity of fully qualified mathematics and science teachers at secondary level.
Qualifications present a particular hurdle. On average across OECD countries, nine percent of primary and secondary teachers were not fully qualified in the 2024-25 school year. This figure surpassed 18 percent in Chile, Denmark, Estonia, and Germany. By contrast, Japan and Korea require teachers to be fully qualified before they enter the profession.
Teacher satisfaction remains high, with 85 percent reporting job contentment. However, public perception differs starkly; only 22 percent believe society values teaching. Pay certainly influences recruitment and retention, yet it is not the sole factor. Teachers generally earn between 87 and 95 percent of other tertiary-educated workers. Furthermore, starting salaries for lower secondary teachers average just 61 percent of similarly educated professionals.
Manageable workloads, professional autonomy, and effective school leadership also shape teaching’s attractiveness. Career development opportunities and public recognition play crucial roles. Ultimately, education systems compete with other sectors for highly qualified personnel, reflecting broader skilled worker shortages across the economy.
Addressing these teacher shortages requires strategic action. Education systems can optimize existing teaching capacity and broaden pathways into the profession. Maintaining high standards throughout this process remains vital. Technology, including artificial intelligence, and specialized support staff can ease administrative burdens. This allows teachers to focus more on instruction, student support, and professional growth.
Demographic shifts also present a unique opportunity. The number of children aged 5-14 is projected to decrease by nine percent across the OECD between 2024 and 2033. This decline, though uneven, provides a window for policymakers. They can redirect teachers and resources more effectively to the schools, subjects, and communities where shortages are most acute.
