Empower North Carolina’s Workforce by Supporting Early Childhood Educators: Insights from the 2023 Workforce Study

Our Working in Early Care and Education in North Carolina: 2023 Workforce Study reveals a pressing need for the business community to recognize and support the critical role of early childhood educators in our economy.

Child care workers are the workforce behind the workforce, making it possible for parents and guardians to work, businesses to retain talent, and communities to thrive. These professionals are skilled and knowledgeable, yet their contributions are often undervalued. The 2023 Workforce Study highlights some striking findings:

• Education: 89% of center directors and 57% of teaching staff have at least an associate degree, with over 61% of directors and 42% of teaching staff holding specific degrees in early childhood education.
• Compensation: The median starting salary for early childhood teachers in North Carolina in 2023 was just $14 per hour and 14% of teaching staff had no health insurance from any source.
• Workforce Instability: Nearly 40% of full-time teachers left their child care positions in 2023, and 23% of teaching staff are considering leaving the field in the next three years.

Without high-quality early care and education, our economy faces significant challenges. When child care services are unavailable, unreliable, or unaffordable, businesses can face higher employee turnover, reduced productivity, and challenges in talent retention.

Advocating for and championing accessible, high-quality child care supports your workforce and your bottom line. Here’s how you can get involved:

• Read the full 2023 Workforce Study or take a look at your specific county’s report.
• Explore our business community resources and download our fact sheet.
• Request a speaker from Early Years to speak at a Chamber of Commerce event, a conference, or a company event.
• Join us in advocating for change. Reach out to your elected officials and encourage them to prioritize initiatives that improve wages, working conditions, and educational opportunities for early childhood educators.

Supporting childcare workers is an investment in the success of today’s workforce—and tomorrow’s.