Immigrants’ contribution to the early learning and childcare sector

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There are more than 4.7 million children under 12 years old in Canada. Early learning and child care occupations in Canada employ more than 208,000 workers^{Footnote 1}. These occupations provide critical support for the education and well-being of children in roles such as daycare workers, educators, teachers, assistants and caregivers who provide care for children at home. Given that 40% of workers in these occupations are over the age of 45, and many are expected to retire or transition to other employment in the next decade, immigrants continue to ensure vital support for children’s education and well-being.

Impact of immigration

• Seventy-seven per cent of immigrants in early learning and child care occupations have completed post-secondary education.
• Over 50% of all home child care providers in the country are immigrants.
• Immigrants account for 39% of all early learning educators and child care providers, with 36% of these immigrants having arrived in Canada between 2011 and 2021.
• Almost 1 in 3 self-employed daycare providers^Footnote2 are immigrants.

Unless otherwise noted, all statistics are from the Statistics Canada 2021 Census.

Text version: Immigrant workers in early learning and child care

• 77% of immigrants in early learning and child care occupations have completed post-secondary education
• 52% of all home child care providers in the country are immigrants
• 39% of all early learning educators and child care providers are immigrants
• 29% of self-employed daycare providers are immigrants