Childcare crisis: Majority of workers plan to resign within three years

Most childcare workers plan to leave the industry within three years as centres across Australia continually battle to retain staff.

The findings are part of a national snap poll from the United Workers Union, released on Tuesday, which involved more than 1100 educators and nearly 200 parents.

It found 97 per cent of centres lost staff in the past 12 months, while six-in-10 childcare workers had plans to leave the sector.

However, 90 per cent of educators surveyed said they would be more likely to remain if their pay was increased by 25 per cent.

In total, 98 per cent of educators reported feeling under pressure due to staff shortages, compared to 87 per cent in 2023.

For parents, 84 per cent agreed their child’s educator was under considerable pressure.

United Workers Union early education director Carolyn Smith said a wage increase was one way to help alleviate staff shortages.

“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,” Ms Smith said.

“The new evidence today is unequivocal: 12 months on the crisis is even worse. Immediate action is required to tackle the growing workforce crisis.”

One South Australian early childhood educator told the union the pressures of working in childhood often meant a long-term career in the sector “isn’t sustainable”.

“We care, we clean, we teach, we inspire, and we give everything we have for these young lives. Often, we come home and have nothing left for our own loved ones,” she said.

In 2024, 70 per cent of childcare rooms were reported as under-ratio, with 25 per cent of them under-ratio frequently.

Also this year, 72 per cent of parents reported their child’s educator had left in the past year.