National Occupational Classification (NOC): 42202
Fast Facts
- Average Pay: N/A
- Future Growth: N/A
- Skill Level: N/A
- Employment Size: N/A
- Unemployment: N/A
- Full-time Share: N/A
Sample Job Titles
- Child care worker assistant
- Child care worker, daycare
- Daycare supervisor
- Daycare teacher
- Early childhood educator (E.C.E.)
- Early childhood educator – preschool
- Early childhood educator assistant
- Early childhood supervisor
- Preschool helper
- Preschool supervisor
What do early childhood educators and assistants do?
Early childhood educators plan, organize and implement programs for children between the ages of infancy and 12 years. Early childhood educator assistants provide care for infants and preschool- to school-age children under the guidance of early childhood educators. Early childhood educators and assistants lead children in activities to stimulate and develop their intellectual, physical and emotional growth and ensure their security and well-being. They are employed in child-care centres, daycare centres, kindergartens, agencies for exceptional children and other settings where early childhood education services are provided. Supervisors of early childhood educators and assistants are included in this unit group.
Early childhood educators perform some or all of the following duties:
- Develop and implement child-care programs that support and promote the physical, cognitive, emotional and social development of children
- Lead activities by telling or reading stories, teaching songs, taking children to local points of interest and providing opportunities to express creativity through the media of art, dramatic play, music and physical activity
- Plan and maintain an environment that protects the health, security and well-being of children
- Assess the abilities, interests and needs of children and discuss progress or problems with parents and other staff members
- Observe children for signs of potential learning or behavioural problems and prepare reports for parents, guardians or supervisor
- Guide and assist children in the development of proper eating, dressing and toilet habits
- Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with co-workers and community service providers working with children
- May plan and organize activities for school-age children in child-care programs before and after regular school hours
- May supervise and coordinate activities of other early childhood educators and early childhood educator assistants.
Early childhood educator assistants perform some or all of the following duties
- Support early childhood educators in carrying out programs that promote the physical, cognitive, emotional and social development of children
- Engage children in activities by telling stories, teaching songs and preparing crafts
- Prepare snacks and arrange rooms or furniture for lunch and rest periods
- Assist with proper eating, dressing and toilet habits
- Submit written observations on children to early childhood educators or supervisors
- Maintain daycare equipment and assist in housekeeping and cooking duties
- Attend staff meetings to discuss progress and problems of children
- May assist early childhood educators or supervisors in keeping records.
Source: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021, Employment and Social Development Canada
Early childhood educators and assistants work in the following subsectors (NAICS) in Newfoundland and Labrador:
- 624 Social assistance
- 611 Educational services
- 713 Amusement, gambling and recreation industries
- 541 Professional, scientific and technical services
- 561 Administrative and support services
- 621 Ambulatory health care services
- 914 Aboriginal public administration
Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada
Short and Long Term Occupational Projections
Short Term Projections for 2023-2025
The employment outlook will be good for early childhood educators and assistants in Newfoundland and Labrador (rating of 4 out of 5) for the 2023-2025 period.
Source: Job Bank, Government of Canada
Long Term Projections for 2023-2032
Early childhood educators and assistants belong to the broader occupational group 42202, 42203 (Early childhood educators and assistants). This group is forecast to be balanced (rating of 1.9 out of 4) over the next several years, meaning projected labour supply is expected to meet forecasted job openings.
Source: Department of Finance, Occupation Projections (Summer 2023)
Number of Job Postings in 2023
During 2023, there were 189 public job postings for this occupation, with the following distribution:
| Avalon: 65% | Western: 10% |
| Eastern: 4% | Labrador: 4% |
| Central: 15% | NL-unspecified: 3% |
Source: Lightcast (note: data used in this analysis reflects new unique monthly postings which are totaled for the calendar year)
Who works as early childhood educators and assistants in Newfoundland and Labrador?
During the reference week of May 2021, there were approximately 1,800 people working in this occupation in Newfoundland and Labrador. 3% of those employed were Male+ and 97% of those employed were Female+.
Here is the age group breakdown for this group of workers:
| 15 to 24 | 25 to 54 | 55 to 64 | 65+ |
| 18% | 73% | 8% | 3% |
Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada
How much do early childhood educators and assistants make?
Annual Earnings
The median employment income for all early childhood educators and assistants in the reference year 2020 (1,895 workers in total, including those working part-time and full-time, as well as part-year and full-year) was $22,000.
Source: Census 2021, Statistics Canada
Hourly Earnings
Salary information for early childhood educators and assistants in Newfoundland and Labrador is as follows:
| Low ($/hour) | Median ($/hour) | High ($/hour) | |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | $15.00 | $16.00 | $20.86 |
The following low, median, and high wages are for Canada:
| Low ($/hour) | Median ($/hour) | High ($/hour) |
| $15.00 | $21.00 | $27.75 |
Source: Job Bank, Government of Canada
Most Frequently Sought Skills from Job Postings (2023)
- Early Childhood Education
- Working With Children
- Social Development
- Behavioural Problems
- Child Development
- Preschool Education
- American Sign Language (ASL)
Source: Lightcast
What training is required?
Early Childhood Educators:
- Completion of a two- to four-year college program in early childhood education
or
A bachelor’s degree in child development is required. - Licensing is required in Ontario and certification is required in British Columbia for early childhood educators. Licensing for early childhood educators is usually required in all other provinces and territories.
Early Childhood Educator Assistants:
- Completion of secondary school is required.
- Experience in child care is required.
- Completion of an early childhood education assistant certificate program or post-secondary courses in early childhood education may be required.
- Licensing by a provincial or territorial association as an early childhood educator may be required.
Additional Information:
- Progression to senior positions, such as daycare supervisor, is possible with several years of experience or with experience and advanced ECE qualification levels.
Source: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021, Employment and Social Development Canada
* Find public and private education, training and skills development opportunities in Newfoundland and Labrador here.