Job prospects Early Childhood Educator (ECE) Assistant in the Laurentides Region

Over the past few years (2019-2021), the labour market was balanced for Early childhood educators and assistants in the Laurentides Region. The number of job openings was about the same as the number of workers available in this occupation.

Source Labour Market Information | Recent Trends Assessment Methodology

The employment outlook will be moderate for Early childhood educators and assistants (NOC 4214) in the Laurentides region for the 2022-2024 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.
• Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a moderate number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.

• Employment in this occupation is dependent on the number of children attending early childhood centres, child care centres and school-based child care services, as well as government funding for these various services.
• Demographically, the number of preschoolers is expected to increase by 2024, while the number of elementary students is expected to decrease slightly.
• Since the beginning of the pandemic, however, hundreds of family daycares have closed, resulting in a significant increase in the need for childcare spaces across Quebec.
• To meet these needs, the government has committed to adding tens of thousands of subsidized spaces over the next three years and to streamlining the administrative process for building new facilities, which should encourage this occupation in the medium term.
• There is a significant need for workers in this occupation and the government has put in place measures to encourage recruitment, including a scholarship program for which child care technology students are eligible and a paid on-the-job training program.

While it will be good elsewhere, the employment outlook for this occupation will be different in the following regions:

• Moderate: Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine, due to weaker job growth and a higher proportion of unemployed
• Moderate: Lanaudière, Laurentides, due to a lower proportion of retirements
• Limited: Côte-Nord, Nord-du-Québec, due to a higher proportion of unemployed and a lower proportion of retirements

Here are some key facts about Early childhood educators and assistants in the Laurentides region:

• Approximately 5,110 people work in this occupation.
• Early childhood educators and assistants mainly work in the following sectors:
  • Nursing and residential care facilities and social assistance (NAICS 623-624): 91%
  • Educational services (NAICS 61): 8%

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology