Brazil faces teacher shortage as workforce ages

A study by the Semesp Institute titled ‘Apagão dos Professores: o desafio da renovação dos professores no Brasil’ reveals a significant aging trend among high school teachers in Brazil. Between 2015 and 2025, the number of teachers aged 24 or younger fell by 31.1%, dropping from 17,300 to 11,900. Conversely, the number of educators aged 60 or older more than doubled, increasing by 104.5% from 18,200 to 37,300.

The report highlights a growing difficulty in renewing the teaching workforce. Projections suggest that by 2040, there will be only one young teacher for every six professionals in the older age bracket. In the state of Rio Grande do Sul, the decline in young teachers was even more pronounced at 42.6%.

Beyond demographics, the study notes a shift in employment types. Temporary contracts increased by 40.4%, rising from 146,000 to 205,000, which now accounts for 43.4% of the public school workforce. Factors cited for the lack of interest in the profession include low salaries, high workloads, and professional devaluation compared to other sectors.