Estonian students achieved high scores in the latest Programme for International Student Assessment surveys. At the same time, there needs to be more knowledge about the teachers guiding these students, as this could provide insights into effective teaching methods that can be replicated in other educational contexts. According to the Teaching and Learning International Survey, Estonian teachers' average age is among the highest in the world, and the shortage of young, qualified mathematics teachers is well-documented. The present study aimed to map the motivating and demotivating factors for mathematics teachers to continue working in this profession. The effective sample comprised 164 Estonian mathematics teachers who responded to items regarding self-efficacy and job satisfaction and open-ended questions about motivating and demotivating factors regarding their work. The results showed that students, salary and vacation, and job environment are both motivating and demotivating for mathematics teachers. On the one hand, helping the students to succeed (and witnessing the progress), satisfying salaries and a good job climate motivate the teachers. And at the same time, students' low motivation, poor salary, and straining work conditions (e.g., very high workload) serve as demotivating factors. We showed that mathematics teachers' work experience is an essential factor to be considered when thinking about motivating and demotivating factors for teachers, as well as their self-efficacy and job satisfaction. The reasons, possible impact, and potential interventions on an educational policy level are discussed.

爱沙尼亚学生在最新的国际学生评估计划调查中取得了高分。与此同时，需要更多地了解指导这些学生的教师，因为这可以提供对可在其他教育环境中复制的有效教学方法的见解。根据《教学与学习国际调查》，爱沙尼亚教师的平均年龄位居世界前列，年轻、合格的数学教师的短缺是有据可查的。本研究旨在找出数学教师继续从事这一职业的激励和消极因素。有效样本包括 164 名爱沙尼亚数学教师，他们回答了有关自我效能和工作满意度的项目，以及有关工作激励和消极因素的开放式问题。结果表明学生、工资和假期以及工作环境对数学教师来说既是激励也是消极。一方面，帮助学生取得成功（并见证进步）、满意的工资和良好的工作氛围激励教师。与此同时，学生的积极性低、工资低和工作条件紧张（例如工作量非常大）都是消极因素。我们表明，在考虑教师的激励和消极因素以及他们的自我效能和工作满意度时，数学教师的工作经验是需要考虑的重要因素。讨论了原因、可能的影响以及教育政策层面的潜在干预措施。