Teacher vacancy numbers in NSW public schools have fallen to a three-year low under Labor as the Minns Labor Government works to address the teacher shortage, with 24 per cent fewer vacancies at the start of Term 3 than the same time last year.
The continuing improvement in teacher numbers comes alongside new data indicating resignations and retirements have dropped, as changes made by the Minns Labor Government stem the flow of teachers leaving NSW schools.
It follows a 20 per cent drop in teacher vacancies at the start of this year compared with the previous year, indicating a firm downward trend.
With teacher vacancies across the state’s 2,200 schools now numbering 1,698, there is more work to do to turn the shortage around – but it’s a 35 per cent drop in vacancies compared to the same time in 2022 when the Liberals and Nationals were in office, and the lowest number since 2021.
At the height of the teacher shortage crisis under the former Liberal National government, vacancies rose above 3,000 and resignations outstripped retirements for the first time. Now, the rate of attrition is trending down for both as more teachers – including those with decades of experience – see the value of remaining in the profession.
The numbers also reflect the success of the Government’s election commitment to provide permanent roles to more than 16,000 temporary teachers and support staff, who were left with insecure work by the Liberals and Nationals.
Permanent teachers now make up 72 per cent of the teaching workforce, up from 64 per cent in 2022.
The Minns Government is pulling out all the stops to address the teacher workforce shortage, including by:
- Delivering NSW public school teachers the biggest pay rise in a generation.
- Improving teachers’ workload and conditions, including by making more than 16,000 teachers and school support staff on temporary contracts permanent.
- Attracting and retaining teachers through programs such as the Grow Your Own Teacher Training program, which supports aspiring teachers to study while working in a local public school, and the Teachers in the Field program, which supports regional, rural and remote schools to access teacher relief cover.
- Expanding the department’s Priority Recruitment Support model from 79 to more than 110 schools, including an additional 26 in regional, rural and remote areas, providing targeted support to fill vacancies.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car said:
“Labor was elected to rebuild essential services after a decade of neglect under the former Liberal National government, and while we still have much to do to turn around the teacher shortage, we have seen a sustained drop in vacancies since the start of this year.”
“These further improved figures show the steps we are taking to address the teacher shortage crisis, ignored by the former Liberal National government, are making a difference.”
“These include delivering a once-in-a-generation wage rise to NSW public school teachers, focussing on easing teacher workload, and improving student behaviour.”
“The drop in resignations and retirements shows teachers are hearing that we value their work and are supporting them to focus on delivering quality teaching and learning.”
“Having a qualified teacher at the front of every classroom is vital to delivering improved academic outcomes for our students.”