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

Over the past few years (2021-2023), there was a labour shortage for Early childhood educators and assistants in the Lanaudière Region. There were more job openings than workers available to fill them in this occupation.

Source Labour Market Information | Recent Trends Methodology

The employment outlook will be good for Early childhood educators and assistants (NOC 42202) in the Lanaudière region for the 2024-2026 period.

The following factors contributed to this outlook:

• Employment growth will lead to several new positions.
• Not many positions will become available due to retirements.
• There are a small 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, childcare centres and school-based childcare services, as well as government funding for these various services. 

Demographically, the number of preschoolers and primary school students is expected to decrease slightly across Quebec by 2026.                

However, there is a long waiting list for childcare spaces due to the backlog of many childcare centre projects, higher construction costs, the labour shortage, and the closure of many family daycare centres between 2018 and 2022.

As the government is committed to creating several thousand childcare spaces, there is a significant demand for workers in this occupation, particularly for qualified educators. Measures were also implemented to foster recruitment, including a scholarship program for which childcare technology students are eligible and a paid on-the-job training program. 

While the outlook is moderate across Quebec, it is good in Quebec's 12 economic regions. 

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

• Approximately 5,000 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): 63%
  • Educational services (NAICS 61): 34%

Source Labour Market Information | Prospects Methodology