The objective of this study was to

The objective of this study was to interrogate the reasons teachers are attracted into and
remain in the teaching profession. Understanding the values that underlie their choice may
assist in better targeted attraction and improved retention outcomes. This study draws on
findings from electronic in-depth interviews with retired teachers over the age of 50 years and
an online survey of currently active teachers. The findings suggest that seven factors are most
influential in attracting and retaining teachers. Intrinsic reasons tend to dominate the reason
teachers are attracted into the profession; however, extrinsic factors such as the working
conditions and environment tend to dominate the retention factors. The factors that were most
influential in attracting teachers into the profession were their personal characteristics, the
school location, the perception that teaching was an unappealing profession and the availability
of alternative employment opportunities. The factors that were most influential for teacher
retention were predominantly related to the work environment and included the working and
school conditions as well as the curriculum and extraneous demands (such as administrative
duties) that are placed on teachers. Understanding this split in the attraction and retention
drivers provides the opportunity to develop specifically targeted strategies. As has already been
established in other industry sectors, those organisations that are best able will employ
strategies that attract, retain and motivate talent and become employers of choice (Armstrong &
Murlis, 2004). The school sector also has this opportunity if it proceeds to implement strategies
which target the above factors.