Portugal faces teacher shortage despite thousands in recruitment reserves

Portugal is facing a paradox in its education system where over 8,000 teachers are listed in recruitment reserves, yet approximately 1,300 teaching schedules remain unfilled, leaving students without classes.

Several factors contribute to this mismatch. Many available teaching positions offer fewer than 15 or 16 hours per week, which negatively impacts social security contributions, unemployment benefits, and future pensions. Additionally, many vacancies are located in high-cost areas, such as Greater Lisbon and the Setúbal Peninsula, where teacher salaries may not cover housing costs.

Teachers often refuse placements due to short-term contracts, insufficient hours, or the distance between their residence and the school. Furthermore, the official recruitment lists do not capture all vacancies, as unassigned hours are moved to school-level hiring, meaning the actual number of unfilled positions may be higher than reported.