Early childhood educators in Ontario, Canada, plan, organize, and implement programs for children from infancy to 12 years of age. They work in various settings, including childcare centres, early learning centres, preschools, and elementary schools. Early childhood educator assistants support these professionals by providing care for infants and preschool- to school-age children under their guidance. Assistants play a crucial role in maintaining a safe and nurturing environment.
Both early childhood educators and their assistants in Ontario lead children in diverse activities designed to stimulate and enhance their intellectual, physical, and emotional development. This includes interactive play, arts and crafts, storytelling, outdoor activities, and basic academic exercises. They also focus on promoting children’s well-being and security by adhering to strict health and safety guidelines, conducting regular assessments, and engaging with parents and families to support each child’s development holistically.
NOC (National Occupational Classification) Code
As per 2021 classification the NOC code is 42202 – Early childhood educators and assistants. Early childhood educators plan, organize and implement programs for children between the ages of infancy and 12 years. Early childhood educator assistants provide care for infants and preschool- to school-age children under the guidance of early childhood educators. Early childhood educators and assistants lead children in activities to stimulate and develop their intellectual, physical and emotional growth and ensure their security and well-being. They are employed in child-care centres, day-care centres, kindergartens, agencies for exceptional children and other settings where early childhood education services are provided. Supervisors of early childhood educators and assistants are included in this unit group.
Example Titles
- Child care worker – daycare
- Child care worker assistant
- Daycare helper
- Daycare supervisor
- Daycare worker
- Early childhood assistant
- Early childhood education worker
- Early childhood educator – preschool
- Early childhood educator (ECE)
- Early childhood program staff assistant
- Early childhood supervisor
- Preschool helper
- Preschool supervisor
Inclusions
- Daycare teacher
- Educator assistant – junior kindergarten
Facts &Figures
- Job outlook: Good
- Median income: $39,600
- Top location: Toronto (45%)
- Average hourly wage: Low = $16.55, Median = $20.51, High = $28.00
- Future demand of occupation: Good
Projected job openings
Projected job openings both for new jobs and replacement jobs (replacement jobs from retirement, death and emigration) for the period 2024 – 2028 is shown below.
Total projected number of job openings from 2024 – 2028: 14,600
Projected change in employment levels from 2024 – 2028: 0.018%
Total number of job postings from 2019-2023
| Year | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
| Annual number of job postings | 2852 | 1905 | 2857 | 4963 | 5453 |
Industries where these jobs are found
- 23%
Educational services
- 74%
Health care and social assistance
- 1%
Other services (except public administration)
- 1%
Public administration
- 2%
All other industries
Employment type
Gender
- Men+: 3%
- Women+: 97%
Unemployment rate
13.5%Unemployment rate
Age group
- 15 to 24 years: 13%
- 25 to 34 years: 26%
- 35 to 44 years: 24%
- 45 to 54 years: 22%
- 55 to 64 years: 13%
- 65 to 74 years: 2%
- 75 years and over: 0%
Educational attainment
- No certificate, diploma or degree: 3%
- Secondary (high) school diploma or equivalency certificate: 14%
- Apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: 2%
- College, CEGEP or other non-university certificate or diploma: 53%
- Bachelor’s degree: 19%
- Degree in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or optometry: 0%
- Master’s degree: 3%
- Earned doctorate: 0%
- Other: 5%
Disclaimer and source of information: The above write-up is based on the information available on website of the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, Government of Ontario as on July 14, 2024.
The information should be interpreted with caution as the information may change due to various other factors. The Toronto Academy of Education is not responsible for the accuracy of information at present or in future.
