Job prospects Child Care Worker, Daycare in the Estrie Region

Over the past few years (2021-2023), there was a major labour shortage for Early childhood educators and assistants in the Estrie Region. There were far more job openings than workers available to fill them in this occupation.

Source Labour Market Information | Recent Trends Assessment Methodology

The employment outlook will be very good for Early childhood educators and assistants (NOC 42202) in the Estrie region for the 2023-2025 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
• A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

Employment in this occupation is dependent on the number of children attending early childhood centres, childcare centres and school-based childcare services, as well as government funding for these various services.

Demographically, the number of preschoolers is expected to increase by 2025, while the number of elementary students is expected to decrease slightly.

Due to the backlog of many childcare centre projects, the labour shortage, and many family daycare centres closing between 2018 and 2022, there is a significant waitlist to enroll children in daycare.

As the government is committed to creating several thousand spaces, there is a significant demand for workers in this occupation. Measures were also implemented to foster recruitment, including a scholarship program for which childcare technology students are eligible and a paid on-the-job training program.

While the employment outlook for this occupation is good at the provincial level, it will be moderate in the regions of Côte-Nord and Nord-du-Québec.

Here are some key facts about Early childhood educators and assistants in the Estrie region:

• Approximately 3,110 people work in this occupation.
• Early childhood educators and assistants mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Nursing and residential care facilities and social assistance (NAICS 623-624): 78%
  • Educational services (NAICS 61): 19%

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology