Analyst Jessica Baldgrim from Statistics Sweden SCB notes:

'There are more professional teachers today than before, and the share of teachers within the school has remained stable at around 77 per cent over the past seven years. However, if we look at the development over time, it indicates that while there is an increase in the teacher population, the number who actively choose to leave is increasing more than the number who stay."

For the first time, Statistics Sweden is publishing statistics on teachers' employment. The purpose of the statistics is to show whether teachers work in the school, outside the school or are not employed. The statistics cover certified teachers who have worked as teachers for at least one year in the last 10 years. The data is provided from 2014 to 2022 and highlights teachers in primary and secondary schools, municipal adult education, and schools for pupils with intellectual disabilities.

Teachers leaving the profession increases over time

A comparison over the past seven years shows that the total number of trained teachers has increased, but the proportion of teachers within the school has remained stable at around 77%. Setting 2016 as the index year and looking at the development over time, we note that while the number of certified teachers and teachers within the school increases by 2 percent per year, the number of teachers outside the school increases by 5 percent per year. The growth of teachers who actively choose to leave the school sector cannot be explained by retirements. However, part of the explanation could be related to the work environment, which was the single largest explanatory factor for leaving according to the survey "Teachers outside the profession" conducted in 2022. Yet, more explanatory factors are needed to provide a better picture.

It is common for teachers to continue within the school but in different professions, therefore we have chosen to split the categories within the school. The development of principals and other occupations within the school has increased by 1% per year over the same period, the last seven years. However, it is worth mentioning that teachers who have left the profession may come back in the future. We have noted that there is a slight mobility among teachers, which could be explained by the fact that they undergo further education to become, for example, principals or special educators.

Caution when comparing with the two earliest years

The certification requirement for teachers was introduced in December 2014 but became fully effective from 1 July 2015. For these two years, there is a gap in the reporting of certification data. The number of people who should be included in the statistics is therefore underestimated. The gap is particularly clear in 2014, although some effect can also be seen in 2015. In 2014, the proportion not included but should be included is just over 20 percent, while in 2015 it is about 7 percent. Caution should therefore be used when comparing with these two years. From 2016, the percentage is 3 percent and is considered not to affect the statistics to any great extent.

Next planned publication 2025.