A wave of teacher departures is sweeping across continents, leaving our schools with abandoned classrooms as statistics reveal US quit rates have nearly doubled, UK resignations have hit record highs, and regions everywhere from California to Scotland are grappling with unprecedented staff turnover.
Key Takeaways
- In the US, public school teacher quit rates doubled from 2.7% pre-pandemic to 5.1% in 2021-2022 school year.
- UK teacher resignation rate hit 9.6% in 2022/23 academic year, highest on record.
- In California, 12% of teachers left the profession between 2019 and 2022.
- Low pay cited by 55% of US teachers who quit in 2022 survey.
- 68% of UK quitters in 2023 blamed workload as primary reason.
- In California, 42% of quitting teachers in 2022 cited burnout.
- US novice teachers (under 3 years) quit at twice the rate of veterans, 12% vs 6% in 2022.
- Female US teachers quit at 5.3% rate vs 3.8% for males in 2021-22.
- In UK, 18-24 year old teachers had 15% quit rate in 2023.
- 55% of US school leaders expect teacher shortages to worsen by 2025 due to quits.
- UK projected 40,000 teacher vacancies by 2024 from current quit trends.
- California forecasts 10% teacher shortage increase by 2028 from quits.
- In Midwest US states, quit rates averaged 11% in rural areas 2022.
- Northeast urban districts saw 14.2% teacher quits in 2023.
- Southern states like AL, MS had 13.8% average quit rate 2022.
Record teacher quit rates are rising globally due to stress, low pay, and burnout.
Demographic Statistics
- US novice teachers (under 3 years) quit at twice the rate of veterans, 12% vs 6% in 2022.
- Female US teachers quit at 5.3% rate vs 3.8% for males in 2021-22.
- In UK, 18-24 year old teachers had 15% quit rate in 2023.
- California Black teachers quit at 14% rate vs 9% white in 2022.
- Australian male teachers attrition 10.2% vs 7.8% female 2022.
- NYC Hispanic teachers turnover 17% vs 13% Asian in 2023.
- US special ed: 25-34 age group quit 9.5% in 2022.
- Florida veteran teachers (20+ years) quit 8% in 2023, up from 4%.
- Ontario male new teachers quit 18% within 5 years 2023.
- Texas rural white teachers quit 11% vs 16% minority 2022.
- Scotland under-30 teachers resignation 12.4% in 2023.
- US high school males quit 4.5% vs elementary females 6.1% 2022.
- Arizona Native American teachers turnover 22% in 2023.
- NZ Maori teachers quit 13.7% rate 2023.
- Illinois Black male teachers quit 20% in urban charters 2022.
- US mid-career (35-44) teachers quit highest at 7.2% 2022.
- Georgia female teachers 14% quit vs 9% male 2023.
- India urban female private teachers quit 16% annually 2023.
- Michigan young white teachers quit 19% in high-poverty 2022.
- US urban minority teachers quit 7.8% vs 4.5% suburban white 2022.
- SC over-50 teachers quit 10.3% in 2023.
- England BAME teachers quit 16% vs 10% white 2023.
- Nevada Latino teachers turnover 21% 2023.
- Brazil female public teachers quit 11.2% 2022.
- US STEM female teachers quit 8.4% vs males 5.9% 2022.
- OK Native teachers rural quit 24% 2023.
- Wales male teachers quit 9.1% vs female 7.5% 2023.
- PA Black female urban teachers quit 18.7% 2022.
Demographic Statistics Interpretation
The data screams that teaching is hemorrhaging its most crucial educators—be they the new, the diverse, or the disillusioned veteran—exposing a profession in systemic distress that pushes out precisely those who are hardest to replace.
Impacts and Projections
- 55% of US school leaders expect teacher shortages to worsen by 2025 due to quits.
- UK projected 40,000 teacher vacancies by 2024 from current quit trends.
- California forecasts 10% teacher shortage increase by 2028 from quits.
- Australia predicts 20% rise in teacher quits leading to 50,000 shortfall by 2030.
- NYC schools face $100M annual cost from teacher turnover in 2023.
- US special ed projected 30% vacancy rise by 2025 from quits.
- Florida anticipates 16,000 teacher openings unfilled by 2025.
- Ontario projects 15% new teacher quit impact on class sizes by 2027.
- Texas rural districts face 25% staffing crisis by 2026 from quits.
- Scotland forecasts 6,000 teacher gap by 2028 due to resignations.
- US student achievement drops 0.2 SD per 10% quit rate increase.
- Arizona projects $500M economic loss from teacher quits by 2030.
- NZ secondary math faces 15% vacancy projection 2025.
- Illinois charters expect 30% turnover impact on enrollment 2024.
- US mid-year quits cost districts $1B in substitutes 2022-23.
- Georgia high-poverty schools project 20% larger classes by 2026.
- India private schools forecast 25% fee hikes from quits 2025.
- Michigan projects 10,000 unfilled positions by 2027.
- US urban districts anticipate 8% achievement gap widening 2025.
- SC forecasts doubled substitute reliance by 2026.
- England projects 24% early career quit impact on recruitment 2030.
- Nevada rural areas 40% vacancy projection 2025.
- Brazil public schools expect 12% enrollment drop from quits 2025.
- US STEM fields project 50,000 shortage by 2028.
- OK rural forecasts school closures risk from 30% quits 2026.
- Wales bilingual programs 18% staffing gap projected 2027.
- PA urban projects $200M turnover costs annually to 2028.
- Singapore anticipates 10% international recruitment rise by 2030.
Impacts and Projections Interpretation
From California to Scotland, the statistics are lining up to give the same tragic lesson: we are systematically dismantling our most critical profession, and our children will be the ones to receive the failing grade.
Quit Rates
- In the US, public school teacher quit rates doubled from 2.7% pre-pandemic to 5.1% in 2021-2022 school year.
- UK teacher resignation rate hit 9.6% in 2022/23 academic year, highest on record.
- In California, 12% of teachers left the profession between 2019 and 2022.
- Australian teacher attrition rate was 8.5% in 2022, up from 6.2% in 2019.
- In New York City public schools, teacher turnover reached 16% in 2022-23.
- US special education teacher quit rate was 8.4% in 2021-22, compared to 4.8% overall.
- Florida saw 10,000 teachers quit in 2022-23 school year.
- In Ontario, Canada, 15% of new teachers quit within 5 years as of 2023 data.
- Texas public schools had a 13.5% teacher attrition rate in 2022.
- Scotland's teacher quit rate rose to 7.2% in 2022/23.
- US elementary teachers quit at 5.6% rate in 2022, higher than high school at 4.2%.
- In Arizona, 20% of teachers left after 2021-22 school year.
- New Zealand secondary teacher resignation rate was 11.3% in 2023.
- Illinois charter schools saw 22% teacher turnover in 2022.
- In 2022, 44,000 US public school teachers quit mid-year.
- Georgia teacher quit rate climbed to 12.8% in 2022-23.
- In India, 14% of private school teachers quit annually as per 2023 survey.
- Michigan reported 18% teacher attrition in high-poverty districts in 2022.
- In 2021-22, US teacher quit rate was highest in urban districts at 6.3%.
- South Carolina saw 15.2% teacher turnover rate in 2023.
- In England, early career teacher quit rate was 13% after 2 years in 2023.
- Nevada teacher quit rate reached 19% in 2022-23.
- In Brazil, 10.5% of public school teachers quit in 2022.
- US math teachers quit at 7.1% rate in 2022, per NCES.
- Oklahoma had 17% teacher turnover in rural areas in 2023.
- In 2023, 8.9% of Welsh teachers resigned.
- Pennsylvania urban districts saw 14.5% quit rate in 2022.
- In Singapore, 5.2% teacher attrition rate in 2022, low but rising.
- US science teachers quit rate was 6.8% in 2021-22.
- Indiana reported 11.3% teacher quit rate in 2023.
Quit Rates Interpretation
If you're wondering where the teachers went, the numbers reveal a global lesson plan in which the homework, bureaucracy, and emotional toll have finally outweighed the salary and respect.
Reasons for Quitting
- Low pay cited by 55% of US teachers who quit in 2022 survey.
- 68% of UK quitters in 2023 blamed workload as primary reason.
- In California, 42% of quitting teachers in 2022 cited burnout.
- 37% of Australian teachers who left in 2022 mentioned mental health issues.
- 52% of US special ed teachers quit citing lack of support in 2022.
- In Florida, 60% of 2022 quitters pointed to politicization of schools.
- 45% of Ontario teachers who resigned in 2023 blamed inadequate resources.
- Texas survey: 58% quit due to low salary in 2022.
- 61% of Scottish teachers cited accountability pressures in 2023 quits.
- US elementary teachers: 47% quit over work-life balance in 2022.
- Arizona: 55% of leavers mentioned safety concerns in 2023.
- New Zealand: 40% quit due to administrative burdens in 2023.
- Illinois charters: 67% cited pay disparity as reason in 2022.
- 70% of mid-year US quitters in 2022 blamed COVID policies.
- Georgia: 53% quit over class sizes in 2023 survey.
- India private schools: 48% quit due to job insecurity in 2023.
- Michigan high-poverty: 62% cited violence as quit reason 2022.
- US urban: 51% quit due to lack of admin support in 2022.
- South Carolina: 59% blamed testing pressures in 2023.
- England early career: 66% quit over workload in 2023.
- Nevada: 64% cited housing costs tied to low pay in 2023.
- Brazil public: 46% quit due to infrastructure lacks in 2022.
- US math teachers: 54% quit over curriculum mandates 2022.
- Oklahoma rural: 69% cited isolation and pay in 2023.
- Wales: 50% quit due to Welsh language requirements 2023.
- Pennsylvania urban: 57% blamed parent involvement lack 2022.
- Singapore: 43% quit citing high expectations in 2022.
Reasons for Quitting Interpretation
Teachers around the world are delivering the same lesson to their governments: you cannot expect a quality education system when you systematically fail to support, respect, and adequately fund the people who build it.
Regional Statistics
- In Midwest US states, quit rates averaged 11% in rural areas 2022.
- Northeast urban districts saw 14.2% teacher quits in 2023.
- Southern states like AL, MS had 13.8% average quit rate 2022.
- Western states CA, OR quit rates 12.5% in 2023.
- London UK boroughs teacher turnover 18% in 2023.
- California Central Valley rural quits 16% 2022.
- Australian Victoria state 9.8% teacher quits 2023.
- NYC Bronx district 20% turnover 2023.
- Canadian Prairies provinces 12% quit rate 2022.
- Texas Panhandle rural 22% quits 2023.
- Scottish Highlands quits 11.5% vs urban 6.8% 2023.
- US Pacific Northwest WA, OR 10.4% average 2022.
- Arizona border districts 19% teacher quits 2023.
- New Zealand South Island 13.2% secondary quits 2023.
- Chicago South Side urban 23% turnover 2022.
- US Great Plains KS, NE rural 15% quits 2023.
- Georgia Atlanta metro 12.7% vs rural 15.4% 2023.
- India rural Uttar Pradesh 18% private quits 2023.
- Michigan Upper Peninsula 25% teacher quits 2022.
- US Appalachia WV, KY 14.6% average 2023.
- South Carolina Lowcountry coastal 11% quits 2023.
- England North East 10.9% quits vs South East 7.2% 2023.
- Nevada Clark County Las Vegas 17.5% 2023.
- Brazil Northeast states 14% public quits 2022.
- US Southwest NM, UT 13.1% quits 2023.
- Oklahoma panhandle 28% rural quits 2023.
Regional Statistics Interpretation
The education system is bleeding teachers at alarmingly consistent rates across the globe, proving that whether you’re in a Texas panhandle or a London borough, the job has become an unsustainable marathon of attrition.
Sources & References
- Reference 1NCESnces.ed.govVisit source
- Reference 2EXPLORE-EDUCATION-STATISTICSexplore-education-statistics.service.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 3LEARNINGPOLICYINSTITUTElearningpolicyinstitute.orgVisit source
- Reference 4ABSabs.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 5CHALKBEATchalkbeat.orgVisit source
- Reference 6EDWEEKedweek.orgVisit source
- Reference 7TAMPABAYtampabay.comVisit source
- Reference 8EDUedu.gov.on.caVisit source
- Reference 9TEXAS2036texas2036.orgVisit source
- Reference 10GOVgov.scotVisit source
- Reference 11AZCENTRALazcentral.comVisit source
- Reference 12EDUCATIONCOUNTSeducationcounts.govt.nzVisit source
- Reference 13AJCajc.comVisit source
- Reference 14ASEROasero.inVisit source
- Reference 15FREEPfreep.comVisit source
- Reference 16POSTANDCOURIERpostandcourier.comVisit source
- Reference 17GOVgov.ukVisit source
- Reference 18REVIEWJOURNALreviewjournal.comVisit source
- Reference 19INEPinep.gov.brVisit source
- Reference 20OKLAHOMAWATCHoklahomawatch.orgVisit source
- Reference 21GOVgov.walesVisit source
- Reference 22INQUIRERinquirer.comVisit source
- Reference 23MOEmoe.gov.sgVisit source
- Reference 24INDYSTARindystar.comVisit source
- Reference 25NEAnea.orgVisit source
- Reference 26TEStes.comVisit source
- Reference 27GRIFFITHgriffith.edu.auVisit source
- Reference 28NASETnaset.orgVisit source
- Reference 29ETFOetfo.caVisit source
- Reference 30RAISE-YOUR-HAND-TEXASraise-your-hand-texas.orgVisit source
- Reference 31EISeis.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 32RANDrand.orgVisit source
- Reference 33AZK12azk12.orgVisit source
- Reference 34PPTAppta.org.nzVisit source
- Reference 35IITiit.comVisit source
- Reference 36GPEgpe.orgVisit source
- Reference 37ASERCENTREasercentre.orgVisit source
- Reference 38MICHIGANRADIOmichiganradio.orgVisit source
- Reference 39SCEAAsceaa.orgVisit source
- Reference 40NFERnfer.ac.ukVisit source
- Reference 41NEVADACURRENTnevadacurrent.comVisit source
- Reference 42AMTEamte.netVisit source
- Reference 43OKPOLICYokpolicy.orgVisit source
- Reference 44PHILASDphilasd.orgVisit source
- Reference 45ACADEMICMEDICINEacademicmedicine.edu.sgVisit source
- Reference 46DATAdata.cityofnewyork.usVisit source
- Reference 47IDEADATAideadata.orgVisit source
- Reference 48FLDOEfldoe.orgVisit source
- Reference 49OISEoise.utoronto.caVisit source
- Reference 50AZEDazed.govVisit source
- Reference 51CPSBOEcpsboe.orgVisit source
- Reference 52BLSbls.govVisit source
- Reference 53GADOEgadoe.orgVisit source
- Reference 54PRATHAMpratham.orgVisit source
- Reference 55MICHIGANmichigan.govVisit source
- Reference 56EDed.sc.govVisit source
- Reference 57ETHNICITY-FACTS-FIGURESethnicity-facts-figures.service.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 58DOEdoe.nv.govVisit source
- Reference 59DOWNLOADdownload.inep.gov.brVisit source
- Reference 60NSFnsf.govVisit source
- Reference 61SDEsde.ok.govVisit source
- Reference 62STATSWALESstatswales.gov.walesVisit source
- Reference 63PApa.govVisit source
- Reference 64CECcec.sped.orgVisit source
- Reference 65SAVEOURSCHOOLSAZsaveourschoolsaz.orgVisit source
- Reference 66EDUCATIONeducation.govt.nzVisit source
- Reference 67ILLINOISPOLICYillinoispolicy.orgVisit source
- Reference 68INDIABUDGETindiabudget.nic.inVisit source
- Reference 69ITUitu.edu.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 70MECmec.gov.brVisit source
- Reference 71ACTact.orgVisit source
- Reference 72PDEpde.pa.govVisit source
- Reference 73SOUTHERNEDUCATIONsoutherneducation.orgVisit source
- Reference 74WESTEDwested.orgVisit source
- Reference 75LONDONlondon.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 76ED100ed100.orgVisit source
- Reference 77VICvic.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 78SCHOOLSschools.nyc.govVisit source
- Reference 79STATCANstatcan.gc.caVisit source
- Reference 80TEXASTRIBUNEtexastribune.orgVisit source
- Reference 81PNWTEACHERRETENTIONpnwteacherretention.orgVisit source
- Reference 82CPScps.eduVisit source
- Reference 83GREATPLAINSEDUCATIONgreatplainseducation.orgVisit source
- Reference 84APPEDapped.orgVisit source
- Reference 85CCSDccsd.netVisit source
- Reference 86SWEDswed.orgVisit source