Global teacher shortages are heavily impacting mathematics, science, and disadvantaged classrooms across most OECD education systems, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s Education at a Glance 2026 report. Secretary-General Mathias Cormann stated during the launch that school systems face mounting difficulties in recruiting, retaining, and deploying qualified educators where they are needed most.
Official Vacancy Rates Mask Subject and Regional Shortages
Official vacancy numbers show that unfilled posts accounted for less than 4% of the combined primary and secondary teaching workforce in 2024/25 across 20 education systems with available data. However, these system-wide averages mask deep disparities. Among 16 countries and economies with specific data, 11 reported acute shortages of fully qualified math and science teachers at the secondary level, with deficits also concentrated in rural, remote, and disadvantaged communities.
Qualification Gaps and Aging Workforces Threaten Pipeline
Teacher qualifications vary widely across member nations. In the 2024/25 school year, 9% of primary and secondary teachers lacked full qualifications on average across OECD countries. That figure exceeded 18% in Chile, Denmark, Estonia, and Germany, while nations like Japan and Korea maintain strict mandates requiring full qualifications prior to entering the classroom. Compounding these recruitment challenges, one in four secondary teachers across the OECD is aged 55 or older, setting the stage for a wave of retirements.
Compensation Disparities and Non-Pay Retention Factors
Pay remains a central driver of recruitment hurdles, though non-monetary conditions heavily influence retention. Average teacher earnings sit between 87% and 95% of other tertiary-educated workers, while starting salaries for lower secondary teachers drop to 61% of similarly educated peers. Despite 85% of teachers reporting satisfaction with their jobs, only 22% believe society values the profession. Manageable workloads, professional autonomy, and effective school leadership remain critical to keeping educators in classrooms.
Demographic Shifts and Technological Solutions
Education systems are exploring new pathways and technologies to ease staffing strains while competing with broader labor market demands. Artificial intelligence and specialized support staff can absorb administrative burdens, freeing educators to focus on instruction and student support. Meanwhile, demographic shifts offer strategic breathing room: the number of children aged 5-14 is projected to fall by 9% across the OECD between 2024 and 2033, allowing policymakers to redirect resources toward hard-hit subjects and regions.
Frequently Asked Questions About Global Teacher Shortages
How do teacher salaries compare to other professions?
Across OECD countries, teachers earn between 87% and 95% of the earnings of other tertiary-educated workers, with starting salaries for lower secondary teachers averaging 61% of similarly educated peers.
What role do qualifications play in current staffing shortfalls?
In the 2024/25 school year, 9% of primary and secondary teachers were not fully qualified on average across the OECD, with rates exceeding 18% in countries like Chile, Denmark, Estonia, and Germany.
How will demographic changes impact schools in the coming decade?
The population of children aged 5-14 is projected to drop by 9% across the OECD between 2024 and 2033, giving policymakers an opportunity to reallocate teachers and resources to areas of greatest need.
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