Women dominate Poland’s education sector: 84% of teachers are female, and the profession’s workforce is aging rapidly.
The teaching profession in Poland is overwhelmingly female, with 84% of all educators being women. According to data from the Ministry of National Education (MEN), there are 580,387 female teachers and 110,434 male teachers. The profession is one of the most gender-imbalanced, especially in preschools, where women account for 98% of teachers.
Aging Workforce
The average age of female teachers is now 46, while male teachers average 48. This marks a steady rise from a decade ago, where the average ages were 41.5 and 43, respectively. Currently, Poland’s oldest active teacher is 87 years old, while the youngest is 21.
Most Work in Primary Schools
Most Polish teachers—54%—work in primary schools. Meanwhile, 22% work in secondary education, and 17% in preschools. Among the most experienced educators, 54% have reached the top level of professional advancement as “diplomated teachers.”