In most European countries, teachers in primary or secondary education retire from their profession as soon as they are offered an opportunity to do so. Teachers thus retire when they have completed the required number of years and/or reached the minimum age for full pension entitlement.
However, a significant percentage of teachers (more than 5 %) remain in their occupation after the minimum retirement age in Denmark at primary level; in Italy, Cyprus, Poland and Finland at secondary level; and in Germany, Sweden and Norway at both primary and secondary level. In the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, and Slovenia more than 5 % of teachers continue working even beyond the official retirement age.
It should be noted that since 2001/02 (Eurydice, 2005), the official retirement age and/or the minimum retirement age with full pension entitlement has increased in around one third of all European countries.
The data also shows which countries risk experiencing problems of teacher shortage in the years ahead, if the situation remains unchanged in all other respects. Countries where proportions of teachers in successive age groups over 40 first peak at a high level and then fall, as in Germany, Italy or Austria, will experience teacher retirement on a very large scale in the near future. The demographic bulge in the diagrams for these countries indicates that the age groups closest to retirement are over-represented. By contrast, in countries where the proportions tend to decrease through the older age groups – as in Belgium, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Hungary and Iceland at primary level; in Spain and Portugal at secondary level; and in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Poland and Finland at both primary and secondary level – retirements will occur more evenly over time. Ireland, Cyprus (primary education) and Malta are among the few countries for which the diagrams represent a very gentle slope and low percentages in the age groups close to retirement. This indicates that their teacher workforce as a whole is more evenly spread across the age groups and is fairly young (see also Figures E10 and E11).
Figure E12: Proportions of teachers in age groups close to retirement in primary education (ISCED 1) and general (lower and upper) secondary education (ISCED 2 and 3), public and private sectors, 2009
T E A C H E R S A N D M A N A G E M E N T S T A F F
T E A C H E R S A N D M A N A G E M E N T S T A F F
ISCED 1 ISCED 2 + 3 ISCED 1 ISCED 2+3
Women Men and women/men only
Official retirement age z Minimum retirement age with full pension entitlement
Source: Eurostat, UOE and Eurydice. Explanatory note
Data take account of teachers involved in providing direct instruction. They include teachers in special education and others who work with students as a whole class in a classroom, with small groups in a resource room, or on a one-to- one basis inside or outside a regular classroom. Both full-time and part-time working teachers in the public and private sectors are included. Trainee or auxiliary teachers are not included. Further information on the representation of teachers by age group is given in Figures E10 and E11.
Official retirement age: sets the limit at which teachers stop to work. In certain countries and in special circumstances, they may continue to work beyond this age limit.
Minimum retirement age with full pension entitlement: offers teachers the possibility to retire before they reach official retirement age. Their full pension entitlement is subject to completion of the number of years of service required. This minimum retirement age with full pension entitlement does not exist in all countries.
Country specific notes
Belgium (BE nl): Although the minimum retirement age is 60, teachers who teach at ISCED 1-3 in the Flemish Community can currently decide to leave their profession at 58.
Czech Republic: The ages relate to the year 2011. Official retirement age for women depends on the number of children brought up. The age of 57 relates to women with 5 and more children whereas the age of 61 relates to those who are childless (women with one child: 60 years; women with two children: 59 years; women with 3 or 4 children: 58 years). According to the recent adjustments of the pension reforms, the official retirement age was set to be prolonged gradually and no maximum retirement age has been defined.
Hungary: The Act on social security and retirement allowance (LXXXI of 1997) was amended in 2009. Since then there is a phasing-in system: The official retirement age will be gradually changed from 62 to 65 (e.g. 62 is applicable for people born before 1952, and for people born in 1957 or later it is 65) In addition, according to the modifications of the Act in 2010, as of 1 January, 2011 women with 40 years of service can retire regardless of their age.
Malta: Following amendments to the pension system the year of birth is the deciding factor at which age employees can draw their state pension. It ranges from 60 for females and 61 for males for those born in or after 1951, to 65 for anyone born in 1962 or later.
Poland: The data refers to the period 2009-2014. On the basis of the Act of 22 May 2009 on compensation measures for teachers, a requirement for teachers was introduced to reach the minimum age in order to be entitled to a full pension. Starting in 2015 this age will increase every two years to reach the maximum of 59 for women and 64 for men in 2031.
T E A C H E R S A N D M A N A G E M E N T S T A F F