UNESCO estimates the world needs to recruit some 44 million more primary and secondary teachers by 2030, at a cost it puts in the region of $120bn a year in salaries — at a time when education funding globally is under pressure rather than expanding.
The international sector feels this as a retention problem as much as a hiring one. Surveys suggest a substantial share of the international teaching workforce — around 60% in some samples — has at some point considered leaving the profession, citing burnout and administrative load rather than pay alone.
Beyond the pay packet
The evidence on what keeps teachers is consistent and unglamorous: manageable workload, supportive leadership, proper induction and mentoring, time to collaborate, and a visible sense of impact on students. Schools that treat those as a strategy — rather than a wellbeing week — are the ones holding on to their staff.
Sources
UNESCO — Global report on teachers: addressing teacher shortages · OECD — Education at a Glance 2025: how severe are teacher shortages?
