The Rutgers Child Care Research Collaborative has published two new reports examining the child care workforce in New Jersey. The Collaborative includes the Heldrich Center, the Center for Women and Work, and the National Institute for Early Education Research, all part of Rutgers University.
The research, funded by the New Jersey Department of Children and Families, is designed to improve understanding of the state’s child care landscape. The Collaborative’s work focuses on the needs of parents, the supply and motivations of child care workers, and the sector’s capacity to meet current and future demand.
One report, “New Jersey’s Child Care Workforce: An Examination of Administrative Wage Data from 2015 to 2023,” was authored by Andrea Hetling, Ph.D., Ann Obadan, Ph.D., Liana Lin, and María Belén Conde Oviedo. The study used data from the New Jersey Statewide Data System to analyze employment trends, demographics, and wage patterns among child care workers over eight years. The authors found that the COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant reduction in the child care workforce and an increase in part-time employment. The sector has not yet fully recovered. Although there was modest wage growth, compensation for child care workers remains lower than in similar jobs. The report concludes that there is a need for investment and policy changes to improve pay and create a more stable workforce.
The second report, “The Child Care Workforce in New Jersey: Findings from Focus Groups with Providers,” was written by Liana Lin and Lillian McFarland. It presents findings from focus groups with family child care providers and assistant teachers. Family child care providers operate registered businesses from their homes, while assistant teachers work at licensed centers. Participants discussed their motivations, challenges, and suggestions for improving working conditions. Both groups identified pay as a major concern, but differences emerged regarding workplace environments and career paths.
The authors of the reports are Andrea Hetling, Ph.D., Associate Director and Professor at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy; Liana Lin and Ann Obadan, Ph.D., Research Project Managers; Lily McFarland, Research Project Assistant; and María Belén Conde Oviedo, Graduate Research Assistant.
