The childcare industry is one of the most in-demand industries in Australia at the moment. With increasing population rates and other factors influencing the need for childcare, the industry will continue to expand well into the future. So let’s find out a little more about the industry to discover the right time to jump aboard.

Why is the childcare industry booming?

There are a multitude of reasons why childcare is booming in Australia. Firstly, since the mid-1990s, there has been an increasing number of couples (with children under the age of 18) where both partners work in paid employment, from 53% (1996) to 61% (2016). In Australian households, the bulk of the childrearing falls within the domain of women’s work, yet women are returning to the workforce and require a safe, caring, and nurturing environment in which to place their children. Thus, the rise in female participation in the workforce is one of the most significant sources in the demand for childcare.

Another cause for the rise in demand for childcare in Australia is the increase in population. Over the next 20 years, the population of children aged 12 and under is predicted to increase by 25.5% nationwide and the majority of these children will require some level of childcare. There are currently almost 1.3 million Australian children attending accredited childcare services, but the industry will need to expand to serve more than 1.6 million in 2024, based upon current rates.

Some of the other factors that influence the industry’s expansion are a little less obvious than population growth and mothers returning to the workforce. Examples are an increase in the number of care services being offered, more flexible options for parents, changes to the government Child Care Subsidy, and potential changes to superannuation for women. But the trend that is worth investigating more thoroughly is flexibility.

For many Australian parents, they have to modify their employment in order to balance the responsibility of caring for young children. This could include decreasing the number of hours they work or changing jobs entirely. So what parents seek, for a multitude of reasons, is the future of childcare to be more flexible to accommodate employment (such as non-standard working times and variable shifts) and the changing needs of the family. We have seen this (in the year to June 2018) with the average number of hours of attendance in childcare nationwide rise by 2.8%, while the number of centres offering care outside of the standard hours increased by 3.2%. This improvement in flexible offerings is key to the continued growth in the future especially in this era of shifting work patterns for many Australians.

Ultimately, the future looks bright for those serving the childcare industry. Employees with the right qualifications and experience will be well positioned to take advantage of the boom.

What does this mean for you?

So, what does this mean for you? Well, if you have been thinking about a career change or starting your career in the childcare industry, now is the time to get started! There are plenty of opportunities now, plus the predicted growth of the industry means that there will continue to be roles for you in the future. Additionally, if you’re thinking about transitioning into management roles and more specialized positions in the childcare industry, the upward trends in the industry is a good indicator of a surplus of opportunity. It’s a win-win!

Here at Yorke Institute, we are committed to producing graduates with a high degree of skill and experience to take advantage of the significant opportunities that lie ahead. We have two courses for those interested in working in the childcare industry: Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, and the Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care. We offer both these courses with flexible monthly start dates to fit in with your busy lifestyle. Also, we ensure you have unparalleled support on your educational journey with our Student Support Team to help you navigate your chosen career path.

All of our childcare programs require placements at an accredited early childhood facility where you have an opportunity to put your learning into practice. This hands-on experience with industry leaders is invaluable, and we help our many of our students secure permanent employment after graduation with these organisations. Yorke Institute is proud to deliver a high-quality standard of nationally-recognised training to students and we encourage you to call us on (03) 9042 0231 to speak to a course counselor about the program today.

So what are you waiting for?
Start your career in childcare today at Yorke Institute.