ISSN: 221-2176 Labur Market Research Child Care Occupatins Australia September quarter 215 Occupatins in cluster Rating Number f times in shrtage ver last 5 years Number f times in shrtage ver last 1 years 1341-11 Child Care Centre Manager N Shrtage 2 7 4211-11 Child Care Wrker* N Shrtage 3 7 Key issues There has been a marked easing in the labur market fr child care ccupatins ver recent years and widespread shrtages have abated. While shrtages f child care centre managers ccurred cntinuusly between 1996 and 211, and in 214, the Department s 215 research des nt indicate that there are significant recruitment prblems. Child care wrkers were in natinal shrtage almst cnsistently ver the decade t 213 but in the last tw years there have been adequate numbers f certificate III and diplma qualified t meet demand. In 215, emplyers filled the majrity f their child care vacancies with relative ease and attracted large numbers f. Between 211 and 215 the prprtin f vacancies filled increased significantly (up by 2 percentage pints fr child care centre managers and 19 percentage pints fr child care wrkers). the average size f candidate fields rse cnsiderably (up by 2.9 fr child care centre managers and 7.3 fr child care wrkers). the average number f suitable als increased (up by.5 and.7 per vacancy, respectively). Demand fr child care ccupatins is driven by the number f child care centres in peratin and the number f children in care, bth f which have cntinued t grw in recent years. 1 Further increases in demand are expected with lwer child t carer ratis frm January 216. 2 Emplyment grwth fr child care ccupatins is prjected t be strng. 3 *The Department s research is fr 4211-11 child care wrker. Where data are frm ther surces, ANZSCO unit grup 4211 child carers is used. This includes 4211-11 child care wrker, 4211-12 family day care wrker, 4211-13 nanny and 4211-14 ut f schl hurs care wrker. ABS Census f Ppulatin and Husing 211 data indicate that 4211-11 child care wrker cmprises three quarters f the unit grup. 1 Department f Scial Services, Early Childhd and Child Care in Summary, September 214 (latest available) 2 Australian Children s Educatin and Care Quality Authrity, Natinal Quality Framewrk 3 Department f Emplyment, Emplyment Prjectins t Nvember 219 Labur Market Research and Analysis Branch Department f Emplyment Page 1
Survey results Child care centre manager Recruitment f child care centre managers was easier in 215 (Figure 1). Emplyers filled 74 per cent f their vacancies (up frm 65 per cent in 214). There were 8., n average, per vacancy (cmpared with 6.8 in 214) f whm 1.8 were cnsidered by emplyers t be suitable (1.7 in 214). Emplyers attracted an average f 5. qualified per vacancy but just a quarter f them were cnsidered t be suitable. Emplyers required t be qualified, generally with a Diplma f Early Childhd Educatin and Care r a bachelr degree in early childhd. In additin t frmal qualificatins and a Wrking With Children Check, a range f certificatins were required by emplyers recruiting fr child care centre managers (including first aid, anaphylaxis and asthma certificatin). Emplyers als sught with a detailed understanding f the regulatry and curriculum cnditins defined by the Natinal Quality Framewrk (NQF) fr early childhd educatin and care, as well as their relevant state-based child care regulatins. Abut 7 per cent f emplyers did nt attract any (these were in New Suth Wales, Victria and Suth Australia) and a further 15 per cent did nt attract they cnsidered t be suitable. Anther 4 per cent f emplyers had unfilled vacancies despite attracting suitable child care centre managers (sme preferred candidates turned dwn ffers f emplyment). Figure 1: Prprtin f vacancies filled (%), average number f and suitable per vacancy (n.), child care centre managers, Australia, 27 t 215 Surce: Department f Emplyment, Survey f Emplyers wh have Recently Advertised By lcatin (%) 1 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Applicants per vacancy - RHS Suitable per vacancy - RHS Prprtin f vacancies filled - LHS 63% 44% 3.5 3.7 69% 4.4 Metrplitan emplyers filled 71 per cent f vacancies and attracted an average f 8.7 per vacancy, f whm 1.9 were cnsidered t be suitable. 59% 6.6 54% 5.1 1.4 1.2 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.8 1.7 1.7 1.8 27 28 29 21 211 212 213 214 215 While there were fewer and suitable fr reginal vacancies (5.7 n average, per vacancy f whm 1.5 were suitable) a higher prprtin was filled (82 per cent). 8% 6.4 73% 8.6 65% 6.8 74% 8. 2 18 16 14 12 1 8 6 4 2 (n.) Labur Market Research and Analysis Branch Department f Emplyment Page 2
Recruitment experiences vary acrss the states and territries (Table 1). Emplyers in Western Australia had the largest candidate fields (attracting an average f 14.6 per vacancy, f whm 5. were cnsidered suitable) and filled 91 per cent f vacancies. Emplyers in the Nrthern Territry attracted the lwest number f (3.5 per vacancy), hwever, all surveyed vacancies were filled. Emplyers in New Suth Wales and Suth Australia had the greatest difficulty recruiting. In New Suth Wales thugh, this principally reflects the experiences f emplyers in Sydney, with emplyers in reginal New Suth Wales filling all f their surveyed vacancies. Table 1: Prprtin f vacancies filled (%), average number f and suitable per vacancy (n.), by lcatin, child care centre managers, 215 State/Territry Rating Prprtin f vacancies filled (%) number f per vacancy (n.) number f suitable per vacancy (n.) NSW M 57 4..8 VIC NS 76 13.1 1.9 QLD NS 82 7.2 1.5 SA D 56 6.1 1. WA NS 91 14.6 5. TAS NS 71 5.7 1.3 NT NS 1 3.5 2.2 ACT NS 83 6.7 1.5 Regin Metrplitan 71 8.7 1.9 Reginal 82 5.7 1.5 Australia NS 74 8. 1.8 Surce: Department f Emplyment, Survey f Emplyers wh have Recently Advertised Key t Ratings M= Shrtage in Metrplitan area, D= Recruitment Difficulty, NS= N Shrtage Reasns child care centre manager were unsuitable Arund 37 per cent f child care centre manager did nt hld the qualificatin required fr the rle and were therefre unsuitable. The main reasn qualified were cnsidered by emplyers t be unsuitable was inadequate experience at the managerial level (the requirement was generally fr ne t three years in a similar rle). Applicants were als unsuitable if they were nt cnsidered t be a gd fit with the wrk culture, lacked gd cmmunicatin skills r did nt have gd persnal presentatin. Child care wrkers Emplyers recruited child care wrkers withut marked difficulty in 215 (Figure 2). Arund 79 per cent f vacancies were filled and there was an average f 13. per vacancy, f whm 7.2 were qualified and 1.8 were cnsidered t be suitable. Labur Market Research and Analysis Branch Department f Emplyment Page 3
There were marked differences in recruitment experiences between child care wrker vacancies that required a certificate III and thse at the diplma level qualificatin. Recruitment was easier fr certificate III level vacancies, with 85 per cent filled frm an average f 15.6 and 1.9 suitable per vacancy. Recruitment fr diplma level vacancies was slightly mre difficult, with 73 per cent f vacancies filled frm an average f 9.8 and 1.6 suitable per vacancy. Further, 22 per cent f emplyers did nt attract suitable fr their diplma level vacancies cmpared with 8 per cent f emplyers recruiting fr certificate III vacancies. Figure 2: Prprtin f vacancies filled (%), average number f and suitable per vacancy (n.), child care wrkers, Australia, 27 t 215 (%) Applicants per vacancy - RHS Suitable per vacancy - RHS Prprtin f vacancies filled - LHS 1 2 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 63% 5.5 47% 2.5 65% Surce: Department f Emplyment, Survey f Emplyers wh have Recently Advertised 53% 61% 5.7 5.7 5.7 5.8 8.2 13.2 13. 1.2.7 1.2 1.1 1.1.9 1.2 1.9 1.8 27 28 29 21 211 212 213 214 215 51% 6% 83% 79% 18 16 14 12 1 (n.) 8 6 4 2 By lcatin Emplyers in metrplitan areas generally recruited with greater ease than thse in reginal areas. Metrplitan emplyers filled 85 per cent f child care wrker vacancies and attracted, n average, 15.1 per vacancy, f whm 2. were cnsidered t be suitable. Reginal emplyers filled 68 per cent f their vacancies and there were 8.8 per vacancy, n average, f whm 1.3 were cnsidered t be suitable. That said, there were marked differences by qualificatin level. Reginal emplyers had mre success filling diplma level vacancies than their metrplitan cunterparts, while the prprtin f vacancies filled was particularly lw fr reginal certificate III vacancies (Table 2). Recruitment experiences f emplyers attempting t fill child care wrker vacancies als varied cnsiderably acrss the states and territries. Emplyers in the Nrthern Territry experienced marked difficulty recruiting child care wrkers, filling 28 per cent f surveyed vacancies frm an average f.3 suitable per vacancy. Recruitment was particularly difficult in reginal areas and, mre widely, fr diplma level child care wrkers. Emplyers in Western Australia recruited with the greatest ease, filling all f their vacancies and attracting an average f 6.2 suitable per vacancy. This is a significant change cmpared with 212, when 26 per cent f vacancies were filled and there were.4 suitable per vacancy in 212. Labur Market Research and Analysis Branch Department f Emplyment Page 4
Table 2: Prprtin f vacancies filled (%), average number f and suitable per vacancy (n.), by lcatin and qualificatin sught, child care wrkers, 215 State/Territry Rating Certificate III level vacancies Prprtin f vacancies filled (%) number f per vacancy (n.) number f suitable per vacancy (n.) Rating Diplma level vacancies Prprtin f vacancies filled (%) number f per vacancy (n.) number f suitable per vacancy (n.) NSW NS 93 38.1 1.9 NS 85 18.8 2.1 VIC NS 1 21.6 1.5 NS 88 2.5 2.4 QLD NS 64 26.9 1.6 M-D 69 8.3 1.1 SA NS 1 16.6 1.6 NS 8 7.9 1.2 WA NS 1 14.3 7.3 NS 1 12.8 5. TAS NS 1 6.6 1. NS 83 5.3 1. NT R 39.9.5 S 9.3.1 ACT NS 1 5.8 2.6 NS 8 8.6 2.2 Regin Metrplitan 97 19.3 2.3 69 9.7 1.6 Reginal 57 7.7 1. 79 9.9 1.6 Australia NS 85 15.6 1.9 NS 73 9.8 1.6 Surce: Department f Emplyment, Survey f Emplyers wh have Recently Advertised Key t Ratings S= Shrtage, R= Shrtage in Reginal areas, M-D= Recruitment Difficulty in Metrplitan area, NS= N Shrtage Reasns child care wrker were unsuitable Half f the child care wrker did nt hld the required qualificatin. The key reasns qualified were unsuitable were limited practical experience pr reputatin f the institutin at which they trained. Other reasns emplyers cnsidered t be unsuitable included a lack f expsure t the child care centre wrk envirnment (fr example, the applicant had a family day care backgrund) failure t demnstrate an understanding f the regulatry and curriculum cnditins defined by the NQF r f the relevant state-based child care regulatins living t far frm the place f wrk inability t wrk the hurs ffered by the emplyer lack f desire r aptitude t wrk with children pr persnal presentatin. Emplyers were als unwilling t take n wh lacked certificatin in first aid, anaphylaxis r asthma. Labur Market Research and Analysis Branch Department f Emplyment Page 5
Demand and supply trends fr child care ccupatins Emplyment Emplyment grwth fr child care ccupatins has been strng (Figure 3). 4 Over the year t August 215, emplyment f child care centre managers increased by 22.5 per cent (r 21) t 11,6. Althugh there is sme variability in the ABS estimates f emplyment, they suggest emplyment has increased particularly strngly ver the lnger term (up 79.7 per cent r 52 ver the 1 years t August 215). Emplyment f child carers 5 increased by 19. per cent (r 24,6) ver the year t August 215 and ver the lnger term has experienced strng, steady grwth (up 76.3 per cent r 66,7 ver the 1 years t August 215). By cmparisn, the average grwth fr all ccupatins was 2.2 per cent ver the year t August 215 and 19.1 per cent ver the 1 years t August 215. Figure 3: Emplyment, child care ccupatins, Australia, August 25 t August 215 (indexed) 25 2 15 1 5 Child Care Centre Managers Child Carers Surce: ABS, Labur Frce, August 215, Department f Emplyment trend (August 25 = 1) Vacancy levels There has been grwth in the level f advertised vacancies fr child care ccupatins (Figure 4). 6 In the year t September 215, histrically high numbers f vacancies were advertised fr child care centre managers (45.1 per cent mre than in the same perid t September 21). The grwth in advertised child carer vacancies has been mre subdued, being 4.7 per cent higher in the year t September 215 than the same perid five years earlier. 4 ABS, Labur Frce, August 215, Department f Emplyment trend 5 Child carers includes child care wrkers but als cvers additinal ccupatins which have nt been assessed by the Department f Emplyment 6 Department f Emplyment, Internet Vacancy Index, September 215, 12 mnth mving average Labur Market Research and Analysis Branch Department f Emplyment Page 6
Figure 4: Advertised vacancies, child care ccupatins, Australia, December 26 t September 215, 12 mnth mving average (indexed) 25 2 15 1 5 Child Care Centre Managers Child Carers Surce: Department f Emplyment, Internet Vacancy Index, 12 mnth mving average (December 26 = 1) Child carers includes additinal ccupatins which have nt been assessed by the Department f Emplyment. Industry activity Demand fr wrkers in child care ccupatins is primarily driven by the number f child care centres in peratin and the number f peple using these services. In the September quarter 214, there were mre than 16,7 apprved child care services perating in Australia (5.1 per cent r 81 mre than in the September quarter 213) and arund 1.2 millin children were enrlled in child care (up by 8.1 per cent r 9,1 ver the year). 7 Lng day care services (which emply child care wrkers) accunted fr 39.5 per cent f these service prviders, up by 3.8 per cent (r 24) ver the year t the September quarter 214. Children in lng day care accunted fr mre than half the children in child care. The number in lng day care increased by 3.3 per cent r 2,81 ver the year t the September quarter 214. These children were in care fr an average f 28. hurs per week. The remaining services were in ut f schl hurs care (54.9 per cent f services), family day care and in hme care (5. per cent) and ccasinal care (.7 per cent). While these services d nt generally emply child care wrkers, ut f schl hurs care and ccasinal care centres are likely t emply child care centre managers. 7 Department f Scial Services, Early Childhd and Child Care in Summary, September 214 (latest available) Labur Market Research and Analysis Branch Department f Emplyment Page 7
Training The number f dmestic students enrlled in a training package fr a certificate III r diplma designed fr child care wrkers has risen steadily in recent years t 92,3 in 214 (Figure 5) 8. Between 29 and 214, the number f students enrlled in these curses mre than dubled (an increase f mre than 25, fr each). Over the year t 214, hwever, the number f students undertaking a certificate III fell by 1.8 per cent while there was a significant increase fr the diplma level (up 46.5 per cent). Figure 5: Student enrlments, child care wrkers, by qualificatin level, Australia, 27 t 214 ( ) 5 4 3 (') 2 1 27 28 29 21 211 212 213 214 27 28 29 21 211 212 213 214 Surce: NCVER, Students and Curses, 214 The significant increases in training fr these qualificatins are likely, at least in part, t reflect the qualificatin requirements f the NQF. 9 The NQF has been in place since early 212, with new qualificatin requirements in effect frm Certificate III 1 January 214. At each lng day care centre r preschl, half f all educatrs 1 need t have (r t be actively wrking twards) an apprved diplma-level r higher educatin and care qualificatin. The remaining educatrs are required t have (r be actively wrking twards) an apprved certificate III r equivalent level qualificatin. Diplma Since the intrductin f the NQF, there has been substantial grwth in the prprtin f wrkers with a qualificatin. Mre than 8 per cent f staff in early childhd educatin and care services nw have a related qualificatin. 11 Frm 216, stage tw f the NQF cmes int effect and there will be changes t the rati f children t carers increasing the number f carers wh will be required t have qualificatins. 12 8 NCVER, Students and Curses, 214 (certificate III r diplma qualificatin, accredited training package) 9 Australian Children s Educatin and Care Quality Authrity, Natinal Quality Framewrk 1 Educatrs refers t early childhd teachers, child carers and child care centre managers 11 Prductivity Cmmissin, Childcare and Early Childhd Learning, Octber 214 12 Australian Children s Educatin and Care Quality Authrity, Natinal Quality Framewrk Labur Market Research and Analysis Branch Department f Emplyment Page 8
Emplyment utcmes are gd fr graduates wh train in the intended ccupatin f child care wrker (88.8 per cent f diplma and 77.2 per cent f certificate III graduates were emplyed six mnths after graduating in 213 and 214). 13 Cnsistent with cmments frm surveyed emplyers, the Australian Skills Quality Authrity s reprt 14 highlighted cncerns abut the quality f service ffered by sme training rganisatins and stated that child care prviders have blackbanned graduates f specific training rganisatins because they d nt have cnfidence in the cmpetency f their graduates, particularly where thse curses are miraculusly shrt, which leaves graduates f thse curses with less chance f getting a jb. Fllwing the release f this reprt the gvernment annunced that it will increase audits n child care training rganisatins. 15 A bachelr degree in early childhd educatin is ften desired by emplyers recruiting child care centre managers. Outlk Emplyment in child care ccupatins is expected t increase strngly ver the five years t Nvember 219. 16 Increases f 2.8 per cent (r 17) fr child care centre manager and 17.5 per cent (r 22,8) fr child carer are prjected, cmpared with average grwth f 1. per cent acrss all ccupatins. Over the fifteen years t 226, the child ppulatin (thse under 13 years f age) is prjected t rise by 23 per cent (r arund 833,). Based n current utilisatin rates, such grwth in the child ppulatin will require arund 113, additinal full-time places in frmal child care. 17 Frm January 216, the NQF includes imprved educatr t child ratis in all states and territries (they are already in place in Western Australia and Tasmania). 18 Since the Department s research int child care ccupatins was undertaken, the gvernment has prpsed changes t billing fr child care services, frm the standard daily fee t hurly billing. 19 Sme cmmentatrs, fr example the Australian Childcare Alliance, suggest that such a change culd affect staffing arrangements. 2 13 NCVER, Students Outcmes, 215 (data cmbine tw survey perids, utcmes fr diplma are cded t child care centre manager) 14 Australian Skills Quality Authrity, Training fr early childhd educatin and care in Australia, April 215 15 Senatr the Hnurable Simn Birmingham s media release, Child care trainers t lift their game, 2 August 215 16 Department f Emplyment, Emplyment Prjectins t Nvember 219 17 Prductivity Cmmissin, Childcare and Early Childhd Learning, Octber 214 18 Australian Children s Educatin and Care Quality Authrity, Natinal Quality Framewrk 19 The Australian, Simn Birmingham flags paying fr childcare by the hur, 23 Nvember 215 2 Ibid Labur Market Research and Analysis Branch Department f Emplyment Page 9