Maybe you’re thinking about teaching English online and you have some questions. For example have you ever wondered if it’s really worth it to change your job and teach English online? Is there really a demand for English teachers? Will you really be able to find a job teaching English online? Today I’m going to answer these questions and more! Keep reading!
When I was thinking about changing jobs to start teaching English one of my concerns was if I’d really be able to find a job. Really I was thinking “Are there that many people wanting to learn English?”
It seems that I’m not the only one who’s wondered if there really is a demand for English teachers. I often get emails from people asking if there are really enough jobs to go around. I could see how someone could be concerned about this. Especially if you’re thinking of leaving a seemingly secure job to do something completely new that you don’t know much about. So let me fill you in!
How many people are learning English?
According to the British Council
” English is spoken at a useful level by some 1.75 billion people worldwide – that’s one in every four. By 2020, we forecast that two billion people will be using it – or learning to use it.”
Here’s another interesting statistic:
“ In a 2012 survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit, nearly 70 percent of executives said their workforce will need to master English to realize corporate expansion plans, and a quarter said that more than 50 percent of their total workforce will need English ability.”
Not only are many people learning English around the world but some countries are making policies that require English to be taught in schools. These countries and also parents realize that if their children learn English, they will have stronger employment options in the future.
English is an international language used in business, science, and technology. Education First described the change of thought towards English this way:
English is “a basic skill needed for the entire workforce, in the same way that literacy has been transformed in the last two centuries from an elite privilege into a basic requirement for informed citizenship.”
Often people are learning English out of economic necessity to keep up with the changing job market.
So what does that mean for you, the potential English teacher? It means that you have numerous opportunities for employment! Especially working online you have access to students all over the world thanks to technology!
Why English teachers are needed!
Now that we know that there are literally billions of people potentially wanting to learn English, let’s talk about teaching jobs. Here are a few statistics:
- Eighty percent of English teachers abroad in non-native English speaking countries – particularly in public schools – are not native English speakers themselves because there are simply not enough native English speaking teachers to meet demand. – International TEFL Academy
- Roughly 100,000 English teaching positions open every year.
Latest estimates put the number of ESL schools and language institutes at 40,000+ worldwide. – Medium
Countries with the highest demand for teachers
China
You may have already guessed that China is one of the biggest markets for English teachers. You may already know someone who is teaching Chinese students English. China is a country with one of the largest populations and if you add in technology you have a ripe market for finding students wanting to learn English.
If you want to teach children and have experience and/or a degree and a TESOL, teaching for a Chinese company may be just what you’re looking for.
Japan
Being a company that is very progressive Japan has a high demand for English teachers. Companies based in Japan are known within the teaching community as being well-paid positions. Now there are a growing number of online-based schools that are hiring English teachers.
Russia
Russia has a good market for English teachers because many Russians are eager to learn English. Online learning has grown as it can be difficult for English teachers to teach abroad in Russia.
United Arab Emirates
This may surprise you but there is a high demand for English teachers here. One great benefit is that the UAE is a wealthy country so the positions pay very well, but you may be subject to stricter requirements because of this.
South Korea
South Korea is also a large market for English teachers as many students learn English in school but have no practice speaking. So many South Koreans take lessons to improve with their speaking abilities.
These are just a few of the countries hiring online English teachers right now! I’ve included a few companies for you to check out but this is really just a drop in a bucket of the companies hiring teachers.
I wanted to just show you that there is indeed a growing market for English teachers. There are companies hiring teachers to fulfill the growing demand for English lessons in their respective countries. While the requirements can vary, there are plenty of jobs available!
I really hope you got value out of this blog post as you continue your journey towards teaching English online! If you want to keep learning why not subscribe to this blog by clicking here.
You can also check out and subscribe to my daily podcast called You Can Teach English Online by clicking here, available on iTunes, Spotify and more.
Also, be sure to get your FREE Report Top Online English Teaching Companies where I share the secret top companies that nobody is talking about but that will pay you the most money to teach English online right now!
Do you have a teaching preference? Who would you prefer to teach? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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