New national data reveals a drop in the proportion of qualified staff working in early childhood education and care services.
Figures released in the Productivity Commission’s 2026 Report on Government Services show that in 2024/25, only 75 percent of paid contact staff held a Certificate III qualification or higher or had at least three years of relevant experience. This is down from 82.1 percent in 2021/22, marking a clear decline in workforce qualifications over the past three years.
What the Numbers Mean
- The Commission’s measure includes all paid contact staff across service types—long day care, family day care, and outside school hours care.
- Staff counted as “working towards” a qualification or those with three years’ relevant experience are included in the figures, meaning not all staff are fully qualified.
- Centre-based services generally maintain higher qualification levels, while family day care and OSHC show more variation.
Why the Decline is Possible
While the NQF requires educators in centre-based services to hold or be working towards a Certificate III, why does the data show less than 100% with a Certificate III or higher?
- Different service requirements: Family day care and OSHC have less stringent qualification rules.
- Experience pathways: Some educators are recognised through three years of relevant experience rather than formal study.
- Working towards provisions: Staff enrolled in training but not yet completed are counted, which can lower the overall percentage of fully qualified staff.
- Regulatory allowances: Staff can be counted if they are actively working towards a qualification, even if not yet completed.
- Experience pathway: Some staff qualify under the “three years’ relevant experience” rule, which doesn’t require formal certification.
- Service type differences: Family day care and outside school hours care have different qualification requirements, so not all contact staff need a Cert III.
- Data capture: The Productivity Commission measures paid contact staff overall, not just those in regulated centre-based care. This includes casuals, relief staff, and those in transitional arrangements.
Workforce Qualifications Decline
- Productivity Commission data (Report on Government Services 2026):
In 2024/25, 75% of paid contact staff in early childhood education and care (ECEC) held at least a Certificate III or had three years’ relevant experience. This is down from 82.1% in 2021/22. The Commission highlights this as a concerning trend, given the importance of qualified staff for child safety and developmental outcomes. - The decline is not uniform across all service types. Centre-based long day care services tend to have higher qualification rates, while family day care and outside school hours care show more variability.
The decline highlights ongoing workforce pressures, including recruitment challenges, retention difficulties, and reliance on transitional arrangements. For educators, it underscores the importance of professional pathways and continued advocacy for stronger workforce support.
The proportion of qualified staff in the sector is slipping, with fewer educators holding completed Certificate III or higher qualifications compared to three years ago. This trend reflects systemic workforce strain and reinforces the need for investment in training, career pathways, and retention strategies.
Further Reading
50% Of Educators Within A Service Must Be Diploma Qualified
Beyond Childcare: Career Pathways for Diploma-Qualified Educators
References:
Productivity Commission
