Early Years Job Vacancies Have Increased by 146% Since Before the Pandemic

Early Years Job Vacancies Have Increased by 146% Since Before the Pandemic 

The recruitment crisis in the childcare sector shows no signs of abating, even as the government begins its trial of sign-on bonuses. Recent research shows that the number of job postings is growing fast, as settings prepare for the extended entitlement roll-out.

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation’s (REC) Labour Market Tracker has revealed that in January 2024, the number of active job postings for Early Education and Childcare Practitioners in was up 146.2% on pre-pandemic levels (February 2020). Active job postings for Early Education and Childcare Assistants in January 2024 are up 30.2% since February 2020. There was also a slight increase in the number of active job postings for Primary Education Teaching Professionals, which is up 10.4% compared to February 2020. 

With vacancies rising much faster than can be filled, there are renewed calls from across the sector for additional help to encourage people to consider a career in childcare. This includes calls for a pay scale similar to schools to be introduced to the sector, and for funding to be directed to providers instead of local authorities, who take a cut. The deputy chief executive of the REC has emphasised the need for a coherent workforce plan to reduce the impact of staff shortages on children’s care and education. 

Voices from across the sector have stressed the importance of a fully-funded workforce strategy to attract and retain individuals in the sector. Labour’s shadow minister for children and early years has highlighted the impact of insufficient staff in the sector on parent’s work choices and children’s opportunities in life, but although childcare forms a part of the Opposition’s industrial strategy, no further details have yet emerged.

Increasing staffing levels is of paramount importance to the sector’s ability to meet increasing demand, but, intrinsically linked as it is to costs, most believe that funding is where the most effective solution will lie.