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This study explores the factors shaping recruitment and retention in Hamilton’s early childhood education workforce. Drawing on interviews and survey responses from more than 120 educators, the research finds that low pay, heavy workloads, and limited opportunities for advancement remain significant barriers. Educators reported a lack of respect for their professional role, insufficient staff ratios, and a need for stronger workplace supports and benefits. The report offers concrete recommendations to improve educator well-being, strengthen professional recognition, and ensure sustainable workforce growth in Hamilton’s early learning sector.

This evaluation examines British Columbia’s Early Care and Learning Recruitment and Retention Strategy, part of the province’s ChildCareBC plan. The study draws on survey, census, and administrative data from 2019–2024 to assess progress toward building a stable, well-compensated, and valued ECE workforce. The report highlights modest gains in wages and professional development, alongside persistent staffing shortages and uneven progress toward long-term goals. It concludes with policy recommendations to strengthen career pathways, improve public recognition of ECEs, and align compensation with the broader education sector.

This chart assesses the adequacy of Early Childhood Educator (ECE) wages by region. It compares government subsidized wage rates for qualified educators working in licensed group child care centres participating in the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care plan with the most recently available cost of living in their communities.

The New Brunswick Coalition for Pay Equity Inc. is a collective group of individuals and organizations dedicated to securing pay equity for women in undervalued sectors. The organization works through advocacy, policy development, and community outreach to raise awareness and push for economic justice. They aim to address gender-based pay disparities and highlight the value of work performed by women.

The Coalition of Child Care Advocates of BC (CCCABC) advocates for a high-quality, affordable, and accessible child care system. The organization supports community-based, non-profit child care, including Indigenous-led programs, and works to improve compensation and working conditions for educators. They promote public education and mobilization on child care issues.

This presentation at the Economic Developers' Council of Ontario examines the role of early childhood education in economic development, comparing labour market-focused and child-centered approaches. It explores early childhood educators' impact on maternal workforce participation, challenges in childcare access, and salary comparisons with other professions, highlighting compensation, workforce density, and retention.

This presentation outlines key strategies for recognizing and valuing early childhood educators, emphasizing fair compensation and benefits, better working conditions, strong leadership, professional learning, skilled supervision, and opportunities for career advancement. The session aims to highlight the critical need for these supports to foster a valued and supported early childhood education workforce.

In this presentation Dr. Emis Akbari discusses the critical importance of a qualified and valued ECE workforce as the foundation for creating positive, lasting impacts on early childhood education and community development. It also features promising practices for the ECE workforce including recruitment and retention, wages, and benefits.

In this presentation Dr. Emis Akbari and Kelly Emery examine the challenges facing the early childhood education workforce. It addresses issues such as low wages, staffing shortages, and quality concerns. The presentation also addresses promising practices, including recruitment and retention strategies, wages, and benefits.

In this presentation, Dr. Emis Akbari, Executive Director of the Atkinson Centre at OISE, University of Toronto, examines key trends in Ontario’s early childhood education workforce—including job satisfaction, discrimination, equity, stress, and wages—with a particular focus on findings from Hamilton. The data are drawn from the Knowing Our Numbers study.