Why Experienced Teachers Are Quitting or Cutting Hours—and the Cost to Schools

Across the globe, school systems are grappling with teacher shortages, but the focus on recruiting new graduates may be missing a critical factor: the departure of veteran educators. Experienced teachers are increasingly leaving the profession or reducing their hours, struggling to cope with the demands of the job. Governments have launched initiatives to attract fresh talent, yet little attention has been paid to retaining those with years of classroom expertise. The costs of this turnover are steep—schools face repeated recruitment and training expenses, and students lose the continuity that seasoned teachers provide. Without addressing the reasons seasoned educators step back, efforts to solve shortages may fall short. The question now is whether policymakers will shift focus from merely filling vacancies to truly supporting the teachers already in the classroom.