This report analyses the career paths and labour market outcomes of the early childhood education (ECE) workforce. Several data sources are used to complement and cross-check each other.

Using tax data, it was found that turnover in the ECE sector involves younger and less qualified workers. It was also found that ECE and Primary school teaching graduates have largely similar employment and earnings prospects after graduation. Using the Household Labour Force Survey and Census data,  it was found that about 70% of workers in ‘Pre-school education’ are teachers, compared with under 50% in ‘Childcare services’ and just over 50% in ‘Primary education’.