School Teacher Labour Market in England Annual Report 2026
19 March 2026
NFER’s annual Teacher Labour Market report, funded by the Nuffield Foundation, monitors the progress the education system in England is making towards meeting the teacher supply challenge by measuring the key indicators of recruitment, retention and working conditions.
This eighth annual report shows significant signs of improvement in key areas of the latest recruitment and retention data that are likely to ease some of the impacts of poor teacher supply over the last decade.
Recruitment is improving, even in some subjects which have seen persistent shortages. Teachers were less likely to leave the workforce last year compared to any year since 2010/11, outside of the pandemic. Some progress has also been made in the competitiveness of teachers’ pay.
However, this is not a time for Government or the sector to rest on its laurels. Secondary recruitment overall remains below target, with our forecast indicating it may be at 86 per cent of target this year. The state of the wider economy being a key driver means that trends could reverse if the labour market improves.
There are also potential risks that could increase teacher workload if not carefully implemented, such as the impact of the revised national curriculum and the Government’s SEND reforms.
Key Findings
- Recruitment to initial teacher training (ITT) is forecast to be much improved in 2026/27 compared to previous years, despite some bursary cuts
- Recent teacher pay growth has narrowed the gap with average earnings slightly, but competitiveness remains lower than in 2010/11. However, the Government’s proposal to increase pay by 6.5 per cent over the next three years would probably mean teachers’ earnings fail to keep pace with wider earnings growth
- Teachers’ working hours and workload perceptions have improved modestly in recent years, but remain less positive than for similar workers
Methodology Appendix