About the early childhood workforce

Learn about who works in early childhood education and care (ECEC) and explore what qualifications you need to join the sector.

On this page:

Sector profile

According to the 2024 National Workforce Census:

  • there were 268,050 workers in the sector
  • 173,738 had relevant ECEC qualifications
  • 91.2% identified as female.

The self-reported data is from:

  • 97% of CCS services, and
  • 67% of dedicated preschools nationally (excluding Western Australian dedicated preschools who did not participate in the 2024 NWC).

Read more about the 2024 National Workforce Census

Roles

Depending on the care type, people who work in ECEC include:

  • early childhood teachers
  • early childhood educators
  • educational leaders
  • support staff like cooks and cleaners
  • directors and managers.

Qualifications

The National Quality Framework (NQF) defines qualifications and educator-to-child ratios for the ECEC sector.

The qualifications to become an early childhood educator are:

  • Certificate III Early Childhood Education and Care
  • Diploma Early Childhood Education and Care

You can complete these qualifications through a:

  • Registered Training Provider, or
  • traineeship or apprenticeship.

Generally, they take up to 4 years to complete.

The qualifications to become an early childhood teacher are:

  • Bachelor’s degree Early Childhood Education (Birth to Five Years)
  • Bachelor’s degree Early Childhood Education (Birth to Eight Years)

Qualified teachers may need to register in their state or territory.

You don’t have to have done the Certificate III or Diploma before starting a bachelor’s degree. Depending on your prior learning, the degree may take up to 4 years to complete.

Learn more about qualifications and ratios on the ACECQA website

Wages

There are 2 primary awards which cover the ECEC workforce:

  • Children’s Services Award 2010, which covers educators
  • Educational Services (Teachers) Award 2020, which covers early childhood teachers.

The awards establish minimum wages.

We’re supporting a wage increase for the ECEC workforce through a worker retention payment.

Learn more about wages for the ECEC workforce

Data and evidence

We conduct a national workforce census every 3 years. The data helps us:

  • gain a better understanding of the ECEC workforce
  • develop and measure policies and programs for the sector.

Learn more about the National Workforce Census

How we’re supporting the workforce

We’re investing in measures to build a high-quality and sustainable ECEC workforce.

Learn more about support for the workforce