The percentage of registered early childhood educators (RECEs) in Ontario child-care programs is declining, raising concerns about the province’s ability to meet its commitments under the national $10-a-day child care program.
According to a recent Ministry of Education report, RECEs made up 56% of full-time child-care staff in 2024, down from 58.9% in 2022.
This shift comes despite an overall net increase of 3,488 RECEs during the period, as the number of non-ECE staff grew even more—by 4,426.
Recruitment and retention challenges are key factors.
Ontario has committed to creating 86,000 new child-care spaces by the end of 2026, but only 27,993 spaces have been added so far.
Staffing shortages have hampered this progress, with many centres unable to operate at full capacity.
With fees set to drop to an average of $10 a day by 2026, Ontario must address these workforce challenges to achieve its child-care goals.
