Teacher Shortages on the Rise Across OECD Countries
Teacher shortages are placing increasing pressure on education systems across most OECD countries. According to the OECD’s Education at a Glance 2026 report, schools are facing particular difficulties recruiting qualified teachers in mathematics and science, as well as in rural, remote, and disadvantaged communities. An ageing teaching workforce is expected to intensify these challenges in the coming years.
According to OECD data, the full extent of the problem is not captured by official vacancy figures. Across the 20 education systems with available data, unfilled teaching positions accounted for less than 4% of the total primary and secondary teaching workforce in the 2024/25 school year. However, particular subjects and regions concentrate teacher shortages.
Among the 16 countries and economies with available data, 11 reported difficulties in recruiting fully qualified mathematics and science teachers at the secondary level. Teacher qualifications are another significant concern. Across the OECD, around 9% of teachers were not fully qualified in the 2024/25 school year, with the figure exceeding 18% in Chile, Denmark, Estonia, and Germany.
The growing number of retiring teachers across OECD countries is making it increasingly important for education systems to strengthen their ability to attract new teachers to the profession and retain those already in the workforce. At the same time, while 85% of teachers report being satisfied with their jobs, only 22% believe that the teaching profession is valued by society. The OECD emphasises that, alongside salaries, factors such as workload, professional autonomy, school leadership, career development, and social recognition also influence teachers’ decisions to enter and remain in the profession.