Meet the gen Zers finding job opportunities teaching English abroad

A growing number of Gen Z job seekers are turning to English-teaching roles abroad as U.S. education funding tightens and the local job market remains difficult. Arianna Marie, 25, previously struggled with behavior management in an overcrowded Florida elementary classroom and moved after her district tried transferring her to another school. Through an English-language teaching job in South Korea, she relocated to Daegu, where she says she can focus on teaching thanks to greater respect from students and staff. The program is backed by the South Korean government, placing native English speakers with college degrees and TEFL certificates in local public schools, with benefits including free housing, flight reimbursements, healthcare, and salaries starting around $1,400 monthly. Broader trends show more recruits—supported by platforms like TikTok and Instagram—across markets including Japan and Taiwan, as U.S. public-service teaching faces low pay and high stress. The TEFL Institute estimates a global market of $95bn in 2026 and 2m+ TEFL jobs.