Goodstart welcomes falls in ECEC workforce vacancies after IVI release

Goodstart Early Learning has welcomed the release of new data published by Jobs and Services Australia showing that vacancies for early childhood teachers and educators fell by 22 per cent by the end of 2024 following the announcement of the Federal Government’s 15 per cent wages subsidy for educators.

In a statement released to The Sector the Group said that Goodstart Early Learning’s 16,000 educators and teachers were among the first in the nation to receive the initial 10 per cent of the worker retention payment and that the decision by the Federal Government to fund the retention wages subsidy was making a difference.

“This is great news for families wanting to find an early learning place for children. Workforce pressures are easing as fewer educators are leaving now that they feel their work is properly valued,” Goodstart CEO Dr Ros Baxter said.

“The national Internet Vacancy Index (IVI) published by Jobs and Skills Australia shows vacancy rates began falling in May last year after the government announced it would fund the wages subsidy in its budget announcement.”

The new data shows vacancies are at their lowest levels in three years, with vacancies for educators down 17 per cent and vacancies for teachers down 32 per cent year on year.

“The 15 per cent retention wages subsidy is clearly achieving its policy objective of encouraging more educators and teachers to stay in early learning,” Dr Baxter noted. 

“Retaining more educators and teachers is the first crucial step to building a universal early learning system that is high quality, accessible, inclusive and affordable.”