Early learning workforce needs extra 21,000 educators

The early childhood education and care workforce is estimated to need 21,000 more educators to meet current demand for early childhood education, the Jobs and Skills early childhood census finds. 

The early childhood education and care workforce is estimated to need 21,000 more educators to meet current demand for early childhood education, a new report finds. 

The Jobs and Skills early childhood census, released today, looks at the capacity of the workforce and captures the extent of the growth required in this critical enabling workforce. 

It highlights a significant workforce shortage, suggesting growth of 1.5 per cent per year until 2034 is needed to meet current demand. The current ECEC workforce would need to grow by an extra 8 per cent to satisfy current estimated unmet demand for early childhood services and another 8 per cent to meet unmet demand for qualified educators.   

To meet the various early childhood education and care policies already committed to by Commonwealth, State and Territory governments, the ECEC workforce will need to increase by an annual average growth rate of 1.9 per cent per year overall and by 3.2 per cent per year for Early Childhood Teachers.

Low pay, excessive overtime, lack of professional development, placement poverty while studying and burnout are some of the factors identified as disincentivising the career long-term. 

CEO of The Parenthood Georgie Dent said long-term reform is needed to address these challenges and change the way the profession is viewed and valued. 

“Early childhood educators and teachers play a vital role in our communities: from supporting the development and education of children, helping ensure children arrive at school ready, helping parents get back to work and lifting the productivity and prosperity of our economy,” said Ms Dent.

The census showed early educators had lower average weekly earnings than storepersons and general clerks despite requiring much higher levels of qualification. 

Lower average weekly earnings were evident when compared with male dominated industries that require similar levels of qualification such as security officers and guards, truck drivers and motor mechanics. 

Last month Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a staggered 15 per cent wage rise for early childhood educators, which will come into effect in December 2024. 

“The Prime Minister has communicated that he recognises that this profession – which is almost entirely female - is an invaluable, rewarding yet complex and challenging job. With some educators paid as little as $24 an hour, the historic pay rise is a significant turning point.

“To sustain demand longer term, we need to ensure that early educators and teachers are not only financially afloat, but have access to appropriate support, mentorship, career progression and benefits.

“This is particularly important in regional and rural areas where staff shortages are rife, forcing many services to cut enrolments or shut their doors altogether. 

The Jobs and Skills Australia report recommends government contributions to long-term wage growth in the sector. 

It also recommends incentives to study early childhood education, consideration of the profession for eligibility in employer-sponsored skilled visa programs incentives, and measures to grow the First Nations educator workforce. 

“Early childhood educators are key to a universal early childhood education and care system which children, families, communities and the economy depend on. The Parenthood fully supports the recommendations made by the Jobs and Skills Australia report to achieve this.”