Annual Education Workforce Statistics
Annual Education Workforce Statistics for Wales 2026
Every year, we publish a detailed breakdown of the education workforce in Wales. These statistics have been produced using data from the Register of Education Practitioners.
The Register is real time and provides a unique source of data about the 13 registered education groups in Wales. No equivalent data is available from any other body or organisation. Consequently, comparison should not be made with other sources such as the Welsh Government School Workforce Annual Census (SWAC), also published annually. For the school sector in particular, unlike SWAC, our data includes all supply staff, peripatetic workers, freelance workers, and others who provide education or training in a school, as well as other education settings. We also hold significant historic data which enables us to provide trend information.
Considerations while reading the report
Legislation requires a practitioner to be registered in the category, or categories, for the work that they undertake, or intend to undertake. As a result, some practitioners are registered in multiple categories.
Since May 2024, new legislation has required practitioners in adult learning, and principals or senior leaders working in further education institutions to register with us.
Section 2: Maintained school sector
Section 3: Further education sector
Section 4: Adult learning sector
Section 5: Qualified youth sector
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Key findings
School teachers
The number of registered school teachers decreased in 2026 from 2025 by 2.3% (34,443 in 2026; 35,266 in 2025).
The majority of school teachers are female (76.1%) an increase of 0.3% on last year.
93.3% of school teachers declared their ethnicity as White an increase of 0.6% from last year (3.4% unknown). In respect of national identity, 65.1% identify as Welsh, 23.8% as British (an increase of 0.8% and increase of 0.1% respectively when compared to last year) and 3.2% unknown.
The number of registrants who gained qualified teacher status (QTS) five years ago, has decreased slightly (20.2% in 2026; 20.3% in 2025) but remains higher than it was in 2022 (19.9%).
The percentage of Welsh speaking school teachers is 33.8%. The number of school teachers who are able to work through the medium of Welsh is 27.1%. This is similar to previous years, with little year-on-year variance.
In Wales, QTS is non age range or subject specific. Of the secondary and middle school teachers that teach mathematics, English, or Welsh, 77.3%, 75.1%, and 68.5% respectively are trained in the subject they teach. In the foundation subjects, with the exception of information technology (43.1%), secondary and middle school practitioners that are trained in the subject they teach ranges from 71.0% to 87.8%.
Reviewing the 2021 cohort of registrants, 75.1% remained registered in 2026 after five years with 21.5% not retaining registration with the EWC. Reviewing the 2016 cohort, 57.3% remained registered in 2026 after 10 years with 39.2% not retaining registration with the EWC.
School learning support workers
The number of registered school learning support workers stands at 45,819 in 2026. This has decreased 0.1% since 2025 (45,887).
A higher proportion (84.4%) are female in comparison to the other registration groups (1.1% less than last year). The next highest category with a higher proportion of female registrants is school teachers with 76.1%.
20.8% of school learning support workers are under 25 which is an increase of 1.0% from 2025.
81.0% declared their ethnicity as White and 9.8% are unknown. In respect of national identity, 47.8% of school learning support workers identify as Welsh, 9.7% are unknown.
21.3% are able to speak Welsh and 18.0% have declared that they are able to work through the medium of Welsh (7.0% and 7.1% unknown respectively).
Reviewing the 2021 cohort of registrants, 47.9% of them remained registered in 2026 after five years, 12.4% moved into another registration category with 39.7% not retaining registration with the EWC.
Further education teachers
The number of registered FE teachers has declined over the last three years and currently stands at 6,125 in 2026, a 7.0% decrease from 2025.
The gender split is more balanced in comparison to the school sector with 59.0% female 41.0% male.
47.9% of FE teachers are aged 50 years and over in comparison to 28.2% of school teachers.
80.9% of FE teachers declared their ethnicity as White (11.9% unknown). 49.0% of FE teachers declared their national identity as Welsh and 27.6% as British with 11.9% unknown.
18.8% of FE teachers declared they are fluent or fairly fluent Welsh speakers and 13.3% of FE teachers are able to work through the medium of Welsh (10.1% and 10.2% unknown).
Reviewing the 2021 cohort of registrants, 57.4% of FE teachers were still registered in the same category after five years, 8.7% moved registration category, and 33.9% did not retain registration with the EWC.
Further education learning support workers
The number registered in the FE learning support category has seen a decrease of 13.2% since 2025 (5,117 in 2025; 4,440 in 2026). This is partly due to the removal of individuals who were registered across multiple categories but did not require to be.
The majority of FE learning support workers are female (67.4%) which is different to FE teachers where gender is more balanced.
83.6% of FE learning support workers declared their ethnicity as White (5.9% unknown). In respect of national identity, 47.0% identified as Welsh and 32.9% British (5.9% unknown).
Of those who made a declaration, 17.4% are able to speak Welsh and 11.7% are able to work through the medium of Welsh (5.5% unknown for both).
Reviewing the 2021 cohort of registrants, 34.1% of FE learning support workers teachers were still registered in the same category after five years, 23.7% moved registration category, and 42.2% did not retain registration with the EWC.
Further education principals and senior leaders
The FE principal and senior leader category has 365 registrants in 2026 an increase of 1.1% from 2025 (361).
The gender split saw 56.2% female, 35.6% male, and the other 8.2% not specified.
50.9% of FE principals and senior leaders are 50 years or older, compared to 47.9% of FE teachers.
77.8% of FE principals and senior leaders declared their ethnicity as White (18.9% unknown). In respect of national identity, 47.4% identified as Welsh and 24.1% British (18.9% unknown).
Of those who made a declaration, 24.1% are able to speak Welsh and 17.8% are able to work through the medium of Welsh (16.4% unknown for both).
In regard to retention, no five-year trends are available due to the category’s introduction to the Register in 2025. However, the year-on-year change shows that of the 361 individuals registered in 2025, 30 of them de-registered, and 34 joined the Register in 2026.
Work-based learning practitioners
The number registered in the WBL category has seen a decrease of 5.2% since 2025 (3,426 in 2025; 3,247 in 2026).
The gender split shows that 62.1% of WBL practitioners are female and 37.9% are male.
88.3% of WBL practitioners declared their ethnicity White (7.0% unknown). In respect of national identity, 52.4% identified as Welsh and 30.0% as British (7.0% unknown).
Of those who have made a declaration, 16.6% of WBL practitioners said that they are able to speak Welsh and 12.6% are able to work through the medium of Welsh (4.9% unknown in both).
Reviewing the 2021 cohort of registrants, 45.8% of WBL were still registered in the same category after five years, 8.3% moved registration category, and 46.0% did not retain registration with the EWC.
Adult learning practitioners
In 2026 community-based adult learning practitioner had 328 registrants, an increase of 15.5% from 2025 (284).
The gender split shows that 78.7% of adult learning practitioners are female, 19.5% male, and 1.8% not specified.
Like school teachers and WBL, the adult learning practitioner age range is fairly balanced, with a good spread of practitioners across the 30-60 age ranges. The 50-59 age group saw the highest percentage of registrants at 31.4%.
68.3% of adult learning practitioners declared their ethnicity as White (27.1% unknown). In respect of national identity, 39.9% identified as Welsh and 26.5% British (26.5% unknown).
Of those who made a declaration, 13.1% are able to speak Welsh and 6.1% are able to work through the medium of Welsh (25.9% and 26.8% unknown respectively).
In regard to retention, no five-year trends are available due to the category’s introduction to the Register in 2025. However, the year-on-year change shows that of the 284 individuals registered in 2025, 60 of them de-registered, and 104 joined the Register in 2026.
Qualified youth workers
Qualified youth workers are eligible to register with the EWC if they hold one of the mandatory qualifications listed in the Regulations. The number registered in the qualified youth work sector category has seen a decrease of 6.0% since 2025 (468 in 2025; 440 in 2026).
Like the other registration categories, the youth work sector is mostly female at 69.1%.
The age profile of youth support workers shows that most of the workforce are within the 30-39 and 40-49 age brackets standing at 28.0% and 29.3%. There are 11.4% who are under 30 years. The percentage of registrants aged 60+ is the lowest across all registrant categories at 7.5%.
83.0% of youth workers declared their ethnicity as White (10.5% unknown). In terms of nationality, 56.6% have declared their identity as Welsh, and 25.0% as British (10.2% unknown).
Of those who made a declaration, 18.2% of youth workers are able to speak Welsh and 11.1% have declared that they are able to work through the medium of Welsh (7.5% unknown in both, respectively).
From the 2021 cohort, 55.7% of youth workers remain registered in their respective categories after five years, 8.8% are registered in another category, and 35.6% did not retain registration with the EWC.
Qualified youth support workers
Qualified Youth support workers are eligible to register with the EWC if they hold one of the mandatory qualifications listed in the Regulations. The number registered in the qualified youth support worker category has seen a decrease of 4.4% since 2025 (699 in 2025; 668 in 2026).
Like the other registration categories, the youth support work sector is mostly female at 72.3%.
The age profile of qualified youth support workers shows a similarity to qualified youth workers where most of the workforce are within the under 30 and 30-39 ranges standing at 24.0% and 31.6%.
84.6% of youth support workers declared their ethnicity as White (10.2% unknown). In terms of national identity, 59.7% declared their identity as Welsh, and 23.2% as British (10.2% unknown).
Of those who made a declaration, 20.4% of youth support workers are able to speak Welsh and 15.9% have declared that they are able to work through the medium of Welsh (7.6% unknown in both).
Reviewing the 2021 cohort of registrants, 39.9% of qualified youth support workers were still registered in the same category after five years, 17.8% moved registration category, and 42.3% did not retain registration with the EWC.
Independent school teachers
The number registered as independent school teacher has risen over the last three years and has seen an increase of 6.3% from 2025 (1,988) to 2026 (2,113).
Like the other registration categories, the independent school teacher workforce is mostly female at 63.9%.
The age profile of independent school teachers is consistent with school teachers with the most individuals being within the 40-49 age group (31.5%).
85.3% of independent school teachers declared their ethnicity as White (5.3% unknown). In terms of national identity, 37.2% have declared their identity as Welsh, and 38.9% as British which is the highest percentage across all registration groups (5.2% unknown).
Of those who made a declaration, 9.6% of independent school teachers are able to speak Welsh and 3.7% have declared that they are able to work through the medium of Welsh, which is the lowest percentage across all registration categories (2.7% and 2.8% unknown respectively).
In regard to retention, no five-year trends are available due to the category’s introduction to the Register in 2024. However, the year-on-year change shows that of the 1,988 individuals registered in 2025, 312 of them de-registered, and 437 joined the Register in 2026.
Independent school learning support workers
The number registered as independent school learning support worker has risen over the last three years and has seen an increase of 17.0% from 2025 (1,378) to 2026 (1,612).
Like the other registration categories, the independent school learning support workforce is mostly female at 72.3%.
The age profile of independent school learning support workers shows that 30.3% are under 30 (compared to 8.1% of independent school teachers).
85.5% of independent school learning support workers declared their ethnicity as White (3.8% unknown). In terms of nationality, 36.1% have declared their identity as Welsh, and 37.5% as British (3.8% unknown).
Of those who made a declaration, 8.9% of independent school learning support workers are able to speak Welsh and 4.1% have declared that they are able to work through the medium of Welsh (2.2% and 2.3% unknown respectively).
In regard to retention, no five-year trends are available due to the category’s introduction to the Register in 2024. However, the year-on-year change shows that of the 1,378 individuals registered in 2025, 410 of them de-registered, and 644 joined the Register in 2026.
Independent special post-16 institution techers
The number registered as independent special post-16 institution teacher has seen a 7.2% decrease from 97 in 2025 to 90 in 2026.
Like the other registration categories, the independent special post-16 institution teacher workforce is mostly female at 74.4%.
The age profile of independent special post-16 institution teachers shows the largest groups are teachers aged 40-49, respectively at 30.0%. In contrast only 4.4% are under 30.
83.3% of independent special post-16 institution teachers declared their ethnicity as White (10.0% unknown). In terms of national identity, 42.2% have declared their national identity as Welsh, and 32.2% as British (10.0% unknown).
From those who made a declaration, 15.6% of the independent special post-16 institution teachers are able to speak Welsh and 10.0% have declared that they are able to work through the medium of Welsh (4.4% unknown in both).
In regard to retention, no five-year trends are available due to the category’s introduction to the Register in 2024. However, the year-on-year change shows that of the 97 individuals registered in 2025, 31 of them de-registered, and 24 joined the Register in 2026.
Independent special post-16 learning support workers
The number registered as independent special post-16 institution support worker has seen a 18.2% increase from 285 in 2025 to 337 in 2026.
Like the other registration categories, the independent special post-16 institution learning support workforce is mostly female at 74.2%.
54.3% of independent special post-16 institution learning support workers are 39 years or younger.
69.1% of independent special post-16 institution learning support workers declare their ethnicity as White (10.1% unknown). In terms of national identity, 34.7% have declared their national identity as Welsh, and 24.3% as British (10.1% unknown).
From those who declared, 9.2% of independent special post-16 institution learning support workers are able to speak Welsh and 4.5% have declared that they are able to work through the medium of Welsh (2.7% and 3.0% respectively).
In regard to retention, no five-year trends are available due to the category’s introduction to the Register in 2024. However, the year-on-year change shows that of the 285 individuals registered in 2025, 63 of them de-registered, and 115 joined the Register in 2026.
Previous workforce statistics
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