These statistics show data on the number of teachers in service, vacancies for full-time permanent teachers in maintained schools in Wales as at January 2008, and sickness absence during 2007.

• There were 28,333 full-time equivalent (FTE) teachers employed by LEAs, a decrease of 723 since January 2008.
• There were no vacancies in nursery schools, 43 in primary schools and 54 in secondary schools.
• The total vacancy rate was 0.4 per cent, up from 0.3 per cent in January 2008.
• 64 per cent of teachers in maintained schools took a period of sickness absence during 2008, down from 65 per cent in 2007.
• The total number of days sickness absence taken increased by over 3 per cent.

The full release is available to download from the Statistics for Wales website.