Annual change in ECEC job ad volumes across all categories moves negative in June 2024

The annual change in the number of early childhood education and care (ECEC) online job listings had a negative drop in June 2024 across the centre manager, educator and early childhood teacher categories for the first time this cycle according to new data released from Jobs and Skills Australia.

Jobs and Skills Australia’s Internet Vacancy Index (IVI) series captures the number of online recruitment ads posted across all segments of the Australian economy and provides a useful gauge of employer recruitment activity on a monthly basis. 

In the month of June 2024 there were 15 per cent less centre manager roles advertised, 23 per cent less ECT roles advertised and 2 per cent less educator roles advertised than in the same period last year. 

Although both centre managers and ECTs have been in clear negative territory for a number of months, the educator category had not, with small gains in year on year job postings evident in March, April and May. 

However that has now changed, with June recording a negative (albeit a small negative) result overall, with more significant falls in some of the States like Queensland, (down 13.4 per cent) and Victoria, (down 8.9 per cent), notable. 

Looking at the bigger picture overall listings are still high relative to pre-COVID levels but the urgency to post and recruit on the part of approved providers appears to be subsiding in this crucial role category. 

The same can be said for ECTs, but with much more conviction, as the number of postings in June fell 23 per cent compared to the same period last year overall, with 23.3 per cent, 35.2 per cent and 26.0 per cent falls experienced across New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. 

The normalisation of listings in the ECT category is now well under way with Queensland the most advanced, with listings now at the same levels recorded in September 2021, well over two and half years ago. 

To view this month’s internet vacancy index please click here.