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SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article

Front. Educ.
Sec. Teacher Education
Volume 9 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/feduc.2024.1380942

The Attractiveness of the Teaching Profession: A Integrative Literature Review

Provisionally accepted
Leanete Thomas Dotta Leanete Thomas Dotta 1Sónia Rodrigues Sónia Rodrigues 2Luciana Joana Luciana Joana 2*Maria João de Carvalho Maria João de Carvalho 3
  • 1 Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Education and Development, Lusophone University, Lisboa, Portugal
  • 2 University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
  • 3 University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    The widespread shortage of teachers, identified as a pressing issue, highlights the urgent need to examine the factors influencing the attractiveness of the teaching profession. This concern is not only due to the immediate challenges it presents but also because of its long-term consequences. High rates of early-career attrition, an ageing workforce, and a significant decline in new candidates entering teacher education programs underscore the urgency of understanding what makes the profession appealing—or unappealing. This integrative literature review was conducted to explore the key themes related to the profession’s attractiveness, identify core findings, and highlight gaps in the current research that could inform future studies. Findings indicate that while teaching still attracts candidates driven by intrinsic motivations and social utility, external factors such as low salaries, challenging working conditions, and limited career progression remain significant deterrents. The reviewed studies also reveal that the social image of teaching, shaped by media and community perceptions, is crucial in influencing career choices. The intersection of demographic shifts and educational policy changes across various regions underscores the complexity of addressing teacher shortages. Despite increasing attention from policymakers, gaps remain in the current research, particularly regarding effective interventions to reduce early career attrition and enhance teacher retention. The review suggests that future research should explore targeted strategies to support early-career teachers and examine the socio-economic factors influencing the decision to pursue teaching. Addressing these gaps is essential for developing sustainable policies that improve the attractiveness of the teaching profession and ensure educational quality and equity.

    Keywords: teaching attractiveness1, integrative literature review2, teaching profession3, recruitment4, teacher shortage5

    Received: 02 Feb 2024; Accepted: 02 Dec 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Thomas Dotta, Rodrigues, Joana and de Carvalho. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Luciana Joana, University of Porto, Porto, 4099-002, Portugal

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