Are Teachers in Demand in Canada in 2024?

Wondering if teachers are in demand in Canada? You’re in the right place. The job market for teachers in Canada has shifted and changed quite a bit over the past couple decades.

So, the answer to ‘are teachers in demand in Canada’- is yes, teachers are in demand in Canada. The demand in Canada for teachers is higher in certain areas than others, but overall – teachers are in demand in some capacity across the country.

Even though many school boards in Canada have recently reported teacher shortages, it can still be challenging to secure full time work as a teacher in the major cities.

Having taught for almost a decade in an Ontario school board, I have been paying attention to the Canadian teacher job market in Canada for years.

Although finding a teaching position in Canada is less competitive now than it was 10 years ago, the level of competition varies depending on where you plan to teach.

So, let’s jump in – let’s talk more in detail about the demand of teachers in Canada, and where to find work as a teacher.

Is there a teacher shortage in Canada?

Yes there are many teacher shortages in Canada, with school boards across the country recently reporting shortages to CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.)

Some of the main provinces mentioned in the CBC article linked above for having reported teacher shortages are:

• British Columbia
• Ontario
• Quebec
• Nunavut
• Manitoba

This does not mean that other provinces aren’t experiencing teacher shortages too, but the above provinces were specifically highlighted in the recent CBC article

Pro Tip: Check this Canadian Job Bank page to see the job prospects for teachers in different Canadian school boards over the next few years.

What kind of teacher is in demand in Canada?

Wondering which subject teachers are in demand in Canada?

Teacher shortages in Canada are sometimes based on region, but its also very true that there are some types of teachers are more in demand than others in Canada.

French teachers

If you speak French fluently enough to teach it, then you will have your pick on where to work in Canada.

French teachers are very much in demand across Canada in English-speaking provinces where French is learned as a second language throughout elementary school.

Math and science teachers

If you have the abilities or qualifications to teach math and science at the high school level, then there will also be a demand for your skills.

All types of teachers in Northern Communities

All types of teachers are in demand in remote, northern First-Nation communities. Working in these communities often means leaving your home and living there year-round, which means that the teachers there can be very transient, and there are often vacancies.

The bottom line: If you have French, math or science skills – you will have more options of where to work. If you’re willing to move anywhere in Canada for a teaching job, then you will have no problem finding work as a teacher. This does not mean that if these things don’t apply to you, that you will have trouble finding a teaching job. It just means that there are more job options for those with these extra skills and flexibilities.

Are ESL teachers in demand in Canada?

English as a Second Language (ESL) is always something that is in demand, as there are many international students, immigrants and refugees in Canada.

However, from my experience – it can be competitive to find a job as an ESL teacher in Canada because there are many people who have qualifications in it.

You can either apply to ESL postings, or you could launch your own tutoring business as an ESL tutor to find your own clients.

Is it hard to get a teaching job in Canada?

Fifteen, years ago, it was known as being next to impossible to find a teaching job in Canada. I spoke to a career counsellor in university that advised me not to pursue teaching, telling me stories of supply teachers sitting by the phone waiting for calls that never came.

However, the teaching job market has changed significantly in the last 10-20 years and teachers are much more in demand in Canada now than they were before. 

There are several reasons for these changes:

• The ‘baby boomer’ generation age group are reaching their retirement years, so this is creating job openings
• Due to additional workplace stressors and funding cuts, there are an increasing amount of new teachers who burn out and leave teaching within the first few years. Sometimes they quit mid-year, which means a replacement (which we call a ‘supply teacher’ is needed.) Other times, they don’t return the following September, and there will be a job opening

The population in Canada is increasing, and there are resignations and retirements every year, which means there are constant new openings for teaching jobs for the public school boards in Canada.

Requirements for Teaching in Canada

Regardless of how in demand teachers may be in Canada, there are requirements needed to become a teacher.

There are many standards you must meet for being able to work as a teacher at a publicly funded school in Canada. If you meet these requirements, then there will be jobs available to you.

• Have a 3 or 4 year Bachelor’s degree
• Be fluent in English or French
• Have a teaching degree that is recognized in Canada
• Be licensed to teach through the province you plan to teach in

Take a look at the requirements for being an Ontario teacher. These requirements will be similar across other provinces. If you are not looking to teach in Ontario, then be sure to also read the requirements for the province you hope to teach in

How long does it take to get a job as a teacher in Canada?

How long it takes to find a public school board teaching position varies region. Generally, the closer to the largest city centres you are (Toronto, Vancouver) the longer it will take to find a job as a teacher – but that does not mean its impossible.

When I first started teaching in 2014, positions were pretty competitive.  I was selected out of 1200 applicants, because of my French qualifications. Now in 2024, there are jobs that go unfilled because there aren’t enough available supply teachers for the amount of jobs that there are.

How Additional Qualifications (AQs) can speed up the teacher job search process in Canada

As I mentioned earlier, it will be quicker for you to find a job as a teacher if you have special qualifications that not everyone else has. 

However, in order to teach those subjects, then you will need to get the formal AQ which permits you to teach them in Ontario schools.

Here are some examples of additional qualifications that can set you apart from the crowd:

• French as a Second Language. This is a big one. Teachers proficient in French are needed across all divisions (age groups) except for kindergarten
• Science or Math-related subjects for the intermediate or senior levels. 
• Special education

I have seen people without any of these add-ons apply and get accepted to new jobs quickly. However, these teaching qualifications are even more in demand than others, which can increase your chances of finding a job.

I’m a qualified French teacher, which was the reason I was hired right out of Teacher’s college (Bachelor of Education) in Ontario back in 2014. Our need for French teachers has only grown since then.

Where to Apply for teaching jobs in Canada

First of all, you’ll need to decide if you want to work for a private or a public school. There are pros and cons to each.

Generally, most Canadian teachers prefer to work for a government-funded school board, because:

• The pay and benefits are better
• They are protected by a union

However, there are some teachers who enjoy working at a private school and swear by it. I was reading this Reddit thread last week with teachers sharing their insight into working for private vs public schools. (Since it’s Reddit, you may need to take it with a grain of salt.)

Applying for Public School Teaching Jobs in Canada

So, assuming you’re going to give it a shot and apply to work for a school board, then here are some resources you should know about Apply To Education.

• Apply to Education (ATE) is the leading teacher job board in Canada. Over 90% of Canadian school boards use ATE to post their job vacancies. Applying for teaching jobs on ATE is pretty easy. You can view jobs by region, by school board.
• Toronto District School Board is one of the largest school boards in the country and does not use apply to education, so you can apply online with them directly.

Apply for First Nations Community Teaching Jobs in Canada

• FNSB (First Nation Schoo Board) based in the Yukon
• Education Canada for a variety of teaching positions country-wide

Are Teachers in Demand in Canada? Final Thoughts

I hope that discussing the job prospects of teachers in Canada has helped you determine if being a teacher is worth it for you, in terms of job security.

One of the beauties of being a teacher is that it isn’t a job that can easily be adequately replaced by AI, for example. (At least not yet.) We will always need teachers, for the foreseeable future. 

How long it takes for you to secure a permanent job as a teacher in Canada will depend on the region you’re applying to, which division (age group) you’re qualified, and what additional qualifications you have.

If you want to find a teaching job in an expensive area where its more competitive, such as Toronto or Vancouver, then it might be helpful to have a side hustle alongside teaching to help supplement your income. You could also look into remote summer jobs for teachers when school is out.