Education becomes the most popular career choice in Dominican Republic

In the Dominican Republic, education has emerged as the most popular field of study for students. According to data from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology (Mescyt), education accounted for 21.1% of enrollments in 2025, followed by psychology at 11.5% and medicine at 8.8%.

Economic factors and job stability appear to drive this preference. Data from the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic indicates that teaching salaries in the public sector are among the highest, while offering a lower weekly workload. The Center for Regional Strategies for Sustainable Economies (Crees) notes that the preference for teaching is likely a strategic response to economic and labor opportunities.

The public sector continues to grow in the country. Based on International Labour Organization (ILO) data, the Dominican Republic ranks fifth in Latin America and the Caribbean for the proportion of public employees relative to formal workers. The number of public employees reached 782,548 by June 2026, marking a 34.9% increase over the previous decade.