Many Quebec teachers are considering leaving their profession due to poor working conditions and high levels of workplace violence, a new survey shows.
This trend threatens the stability of the province's education system as chronic staffing shortages create a cycle of burnout for remaining educators.
Quebec is currently short of more than 2,000 teachers [1]. This deficit places additional pressure on current staff, contributing to an environment where nearly one in five teachers said they may leave the profession [2].
Workplace safety has emerged as a primary concern for educators. One survey found that 90% of teachers reported experiencing violence at work [3]. These conditions, combined with systemic staffing gaps, have created a precarious environment in classrooms across the province.
Despite these challenges, a majority of teachers said their passion for passing on the love of learning is why they stay in the field [1]. However, reports indicate that poor working conditions and staffing shortages are increasingly outweighing that passion for many [2].
Teachers have cited burnout as a key driver for their desire to switch careers. The combination of increased workloads and a lack of support has led some to seek employment outside of the education sector entirely.
While the passion for teaching remains a strong motivator for the majority, the structural failures in staffing and safety are prompting a significant minority to seek an exit from the profession [1], [2].
“Quebec is currently short of more than 2,000 teachers.”
The exodus of educators in Quebec reflects a broader crisis in public sector labor where professional passion is no longer sufficient to offset systemic instability. If the province cannot address the 2,000-teacher deficit and the prevalence of workplace violence, the education system faces a potential collapse in quality and accessibility as experienced teachers are replaced by a shrinking pool of new recruits.
