Teacher statistics Ireland provide an important snapshot of staffing, career breaks, job-sharing and retirement trends across the school system. Updated figures published by the Department of Education and Youth show how the teaching workforce has changed across primary and post-primary education in recent years.
The publication, first released in 2019 and updated on 29 September 2026, brings together several datasets. The figures cover career breaks, job-sharing, retired teachers returning to classrooms and the gender profile of teachers and principals.
Teacher statistics Ireland: key workforce figures
The latest data records 3,302 career breaks in 2025/2026, compared with 3,636 in 2024/2025. Primary schools accounted for most career breaks, including 2,045 female and 415 male teachers. At post-primary level, the figures were 574 female and 268 male teachers.
Job-sharing has continued to be a significant feature of primary education. In 2025/2026, 4,500 primary teachers and 1,604 post-primary teachers were recorded as job-sharing. These figures exclude Education and Training Boards (ETBs).
Retired teachers returning to classrooms
The statistics also show continued participation by retired teachers. During 2024/2025, 1,698 retired teachers returned to work, contributing 68,015 days in total. This included 1,333 primary teachers who worked 55,804 days and 365 voluntary secondary, community and comprehensive teachers who worked 12,211 days.
These figures are relevant to wider discussions about teacher supply, workforce planning and education policy. They also provide context for public service recruitment and the operation of schools during periods of staffing pressure.
Gender balance across Irish schools
Primary education remains predominantly female. In 2025/2026, the dataset recorded 40,227 female primary teachers and 7,527 male teachers, giving an overall total of 50,940. The same year included 2,108 female principals and 1,078 male principals.
At post-primary level, 16,912 female and 8,026 male teachers were recorded, for an overall total of 25,404. There were 203 female principals and 263 male principals in the figures.
How the figures are compiled
- Payroll data was extracted on 30 June each year.
- The totals include contracted and casual teachers.
- Principal figures reflect teachers receiving a principal or acting-principal allowance at that time.
- Post-primary totals exclude ETB figures.
Why teacher statistics matter
Reliable teacher statistics Ireland data supports evidence-based decisions by the Department of Education and Youth, schools and policymakers. It can help identify changing patterns in flexible working, measure reliance on returning retirees and understand representation in school leadership.
The publication sits alongside broader information available through the government’s education statistics resources. It should be read as an official statistical record rather than a forecast of future staffing needs.
Conclusion
The latest teacher statistics Ireland publication highlights a workforce shaped by career breaks, job-sharing, returning retirees and clear gender differences between primary and post-primary education. The figures offer valuable context for understanding how Ireland’s schools are staffed and how workforce patterns continue to evolve.
Article/Image Courtesy: gov.ie
