ECE Workforce Studies

The key to quality early care and education (ECE) is linked to the education and stability of the early childhood workforce. ECE workforce studies assess the ECE workforce in a particular geographic area, such as a county, region, or state.

A study usually includes questions about the wages, benefits, experience, education and training, job satisfaction and turnover of teachers, directors, and family child care providers. Questions about interest in further training and course work, reasons for entering and leaving the field, and programs available to improve and support the ECE workforce may also be included in these studies. CCSA plays a critical role in supplying states and local communities with information about the working conditions in child care centers and family child care homes, which often results in new initiatives to improve the quality of early care and education.


ECE Workforce Studies

Working in Early Care and Education: Statewide Studies

Child Care Services Association has conducted a number of statewide studies to help shed light on issues related to child care. These studies have provided important information to policymakers in our state. Studies include North Carolina (2019, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011).

Working as a Licensed Family Child Care Provider in Wake County

With funding from Wake County Smart Start, Child Care Services Association (CCSA) conducted a survey of the Wake County family child care provider workforce in Wake County from February through October of 2019. This study provides comprehensive data on enrollment and structure, earnings and benefits, economic well-being, professional supports, and more. Information from similar studies conducted by CCSA in 2014 and 2003 is also provided. Comparison of the data from these surveys enables readers to learn about the continuities and changes in the Wake County and North Carolina family child care workforce that have occurred over this time period.

Working in Early Care and Education in Buncombe County

With funding from the Buncombe County Partnership for Children, CCSA conducted a county-level survey of the early care and education workforce in Buncombe County from September 2018 through February 2019. Comparing the data from these surveys to statewide data from the most recent 2015 statewide workforce study reveal both similarities and differences between statewide and local data. Results from the 2019 statewide workforce study are available for comparison.

Working in Child Care in Durham County

In 2009, through funding from Durham’s Partnership for Children, Child Care Services Association conducted a countywide survey of center directors, teachers and family child care providers to develop a comprehensive study of the Durham County child care workforce and the facilities in which they work. 

Leaving the Classroom: Addressing the Crisis of NC’s Early Childhood Turnover

In the spring of 2019, as part of the larger 2019 North Carolina Early Childhood Education Workforce study, CCSA had the rare opportunity to gather information from over 3,000 former birth to five classroom teachers. Read on to learn more about North Carolina’s teacher turnover crisis, what contributed to driving these teachers out of the classroom and where researchers, advocates and policymakers can step up to the plate.

Working in Child Care in North Carolina

As part of the North Carolina Needs and Resources Assessment, a statewide survey of the child care workforce was conducted in 2003. The workforce study provides comprehensive data on child care providers and on the facilities in which they work. This report includes a summary of the workforce survey results in North Carolina and a comparison of 2003 data to similar data collected in 2001.

Required Attribution

Each number and quote should be attributed to Child Care Services Association with a footnote or in-text citation, rather than simply listing Child Care Services Association on a bibliography page.

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