A solid majority of early childhood educators are planning to leave in the next three years, highlighting a deepening crisis in the sector.
A snap poll conducted by the United Workers Union also found 97 per cent of early learning centres had already lost educators in the past year.
Unsurprisingly, 98 per cent of educators also reported feeling under pressure due to staff shortages, compared to 87 per cent of centres in 2023.
A total of 84 per cent of parents agreed that their child’s educator is under considerable pressure.
In 2024, 70 per cent of rooms have been reported as under-ratio, with 25 per cent of these rooms under-ratio frequently.
There is a simple – if unlikely – way to turn forthcoming educator retention rates around, the survey found, with 90 per cent saying they’d be more likely to stay after their pay was increased by 25 per cent.
Parents are also feeling it, with 76 per cent believing staff shortages and turnover are hurting the quality of education and care their child receives.
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“Twelve months ago, we warned of a crisis in early learning: thousands of educators had left, rooms were shut, and families were being hit hard,” UWU early education director Carolyn Smith.
“The new evidence today is unequivocal: 12 months on the crisis is even worse. Immediate action is required to tackle the growing workforce crisis.”
She said a wage increase was “critical” for keeping workers.
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