Poland faces critical shortage of teachers and educators

Poland is facing a significant shortage of educators as schools struggle to fill thousands of vacancies. Data from the Ministry of National Education showed that as of late July 2026, there were 15,729 job offers covering 10,895 full-time positions. High demand exists for various roles, including preschool teachers, psychologists, mathematicians, and instructors for English and Polish.

According to Eurostat data, Poland ranks among the lowest in Europe regarding the number of teachers under the age of 30, trailing only Portugal and Cyprus. Sławomir Broniarz, president of the Polish Teachers' Union (ZNP), noted that this is part of a broader European crisis. He attributed the lack of young professionals not only to economic factors but also to poor working conditions, negative social perceptions of the profession, and tensions in teacher-student and teacher-parent relationships.