9 in 10 new primary teachers don’t have full-time permanent work

Scottish Liberal Democrat education spokesperson Willie Rennie MSP has today said that the SNP have “broken promise after promise to teachers and children”, as new figures show that 9 in 10 post-induction primary school teachers didn't have full-time, permanent employment in 2025.

New figures show that between 2018/19 and 2024/25:

• The percentage of post-induction primary teachers in full-time, permanent employment dropped from 30.3% to 10.8%.

• The percentage of post-induction primary teachers in part-time, temporary employment has increased from 16.8% to 38.1%.

• The percentage of post-induction secondary teachers in full-time, permanent employment has fallen from 57.9% to 42.5%.

• The percentage of post-induction secondary teachers in part-time, temporary employment has increased from 2.9% to 5.3%.


Willie Rennie MSP said:

“It is abysmal that 9 in 10 new primary school teachers can’t get full-time, permanent employment.

“The SNP have broken promise after promise to teachers and children, with huge numbers of secondary and primary teachers now stuck on temporary contracts.

“What a huge waste of talent when young people need good teachers more than ever, when their schooling was turned upside down by Covid and when far too many pupils with additional needs are not being properly supported.

“I have met so many teachers who have been forced out of the profession because they can’t make ends meet and are tired of lurching between short-term work.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats have got a realistic plan to give teachers proper, stable contracts, instead of short-term and zero hours work, so we can get Scottish education back to its best. You can vote for that by backing us on your second, peach-coloured, regional ballot paper in May.”