Teacher Shortage: A Report Analyzes Causes and Databases

Context

In brief

• The Federal Council approves report on teacher shortage
• Report based on UST data up to 2034
• Multiple causes and regional differences
• School reforms do not increase fluctuation

Key facts

• What: Report on data collection and evaluations concerning the teacher shortage
• When: September 2, 2026
• Where: Bern
• Who: Federal Council
• Amount: Not specified

The Federal Council approved on September 2, 2026, the report on data collection and evaluations concerning the teacher shortage. The report shows that the phenomenon is due to several factors and that today there is already a solid data base for monitoring and for the measures to be taken, the competence for which lies with the Cantons. The report was drawn up in fulfillment of the postulates 22.4265 and 22.4266 of the Commission for Science, Education and Culture of the National Council (CSEC-N), with which it was requested to shed light on the causes of the teacher shortage and the reasons that lead to staying in or leaving the profession. The report was also to evaluate the school reforms carried out at the national level and the consequences in terms of additional burdens for teachers in a complete and systematic manner.

Data and analysis

The report is based on the statistical data of the Federal Statistical Office (UST) and, more precisely, on the statistics on school personnel, longitudinal analyses and scenarios on the need for teachers up to 2034. In addition, scientific studies and contributions from the Conference of Cantonal Directors of Public Education (CDPE) were also consulted. The teacher shortage is due to various causes, such as demographic trends, the peculiarities of the profession, specific factors related to the school environment, personal situation and needs related to a particular phase of life: these are the conclusions of the Federal Council's report. Statistical analyses generally show both a high stability of the profession and the fact that teachers often do not leave definitively, but rejoin the teaching staff at a later time.

According to the UST scenarios updated for the period 2025-2034, the need for teachers should change in the medium term. The decline in births will result in a lower number of entries into primary school from around 2027, and thus a lower need for new teachers. However, regional differences remain, which require foresight from the Cantons in school and personnel planning.

Operational details

Practical implications

For the evaluation of school reforms, given the federal distribution of competencies, there can be neither national school reforms promoted by the Confederation nor federal evaluations of these reforms for the entire Switzerland. Reforms are coordinated and possibly evaluated at the cantonal or linguistic region level. The consulted research also shows that reforms alone do not lead to greater teacher fluctuation: for teachers, an additional burden is created, especially when new requirements do not provide adequate support or sufficient explanations regarding skills.

The report concludes that, at the national level, there is already a solid data base for monitoring teacher shortages and for the adoption of cantonal measures. Personal reasons for resignations and perceived overload only emerge to a limited extent from administrative data. Collecting this type of information is primarily the responsibility of the cantons. The Confederation plays a supportive role, particularly in providing reliable data and exchanging knowledge and best practices.

Comparison with the previous situation

Before the approval of this report, the cantons had difficulty planning school personnel due to the lack of reliable data and a long-term vision. With the availability of this new data, the cantons will be able to adopt more targeted and effective measures to address teacher shortages. This improvement in planning could lead to greater stability in school personnel and better quality of education.

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Key points

Concrete actions

The Cantons will now have to use the data provided in the report to better plan school staff and take specific measures to address the teacher shortage. This could include training new teachers, offering incentives to stay in the profession, and creating a more supportive work environment. The Confederation will continue to support the Cantons by providing reliable data and promoting the exchange of good practices.

Useful tools

To further explore the implications of this report and to obtain detailed information on statistical data and school reforms, you can consult the full report of the Federal Council. In addition, Cantons can use data provided by the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) to better plan school staff and take specific measures to address teacher shortages.

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Source: admin.ch