Career sustainability in the teaching profession: Hindering and supporting factors for subjective career success

Career sustainability refers to individuals’ capacity to remain healthy, satisfied, and productive throughout their working lives, despite changing demands and contexts. The education sector provides a particularly salient context for examining this concept, as teachers in Italy face limited opportunities for career progression and task adaptation, raising questions about their long-term career sustainability. This chapter draws on 33 in-depth interviews to examine (1) factors that hinder or support sustainability—particularly regarding subjective career success—across career stages, (2) how teachers conceptualise sustainable careers in their professional context, and (3) the resources they mobilise to navigate restricted advancement opportunities. Thematic analysis highlights the role of social support, professional development, and challenges posed by excessive workload. Subjective career success is often linked to recognition from students and families and to the perceived impact of one’s work. Employment status shapes stability, variety, and vulnerability. Findings offer insights for career guidance, emphasising elements that influence both sustainability and subjective success.