Employment in childcare and early education in the United States, 2000–23

Accurate assessment of trends in the availability and affordability of childcare services in the United States hinges on an accurate assessment of a paid labor force that is categorized in multiple ways. This article examines the composition of childcare and early education employment by occupation, industry, and self-employment status from 2000 to 2023 using data from the American Community Survey (ACS). Among workers in the child daycare services industry, the employment of those reporting childcare worker as their occupation has declined in both absolute and relative terms, while the employment of those reporting as preschool and kindergarten teachers has risen. These divergent trends coincide with changes in credential requirements and broader labor market conditions, including wages, benefits, and demand for formal preschool programs. Additional shifts in industry composition suggest changes in how childcare services are provided across sectors. When researchers refer to the paid “early childhood care and education workforce,” what do they mean?