MAPC Supporting Good Jobs Metro Boston Coalition, Careers in Early Childhood Education

January 9, 2024 - While it feels like we have put the pandemic-induced economic downturn in our rearview mirror, MAPC continues to wrestle with the question: how does Metro Boston reach our goals for an equitable economy when childcare workers, like many others, are exiting their field? Recently commissioned research spotlighted the economic repercussions of the childcare challenge.

As the ‘workforce to the workforce,’ the lack of an adequate base of early educators for 0- to 5-year-olds is among the factors causing many childcare facilities to hold seats vacant. This in turn may be contributing to the outmigration of many skilled workers from the Commonwealth. Policymakers, industry associations, and other civic leaders need to value early educators by ensuring programs and policies lead to an appropriate compensation and benefits package for early educators who are building the talents of our youngest citizens. Early educators deserve a pathway to economic security, too. According to a 2023 report by the Boston Opportunity Agenda, "(Re)Building Boston’s Early Education and Care Sector: Supply, Affordability and Quality Needed," by 2021 there was a loss of almost 5,000 early educators in Massachusetts as compared to pre-pandemic levels. A report by Council for a Strong America found that the Commonwealth’s infant-toddler childcare crisis has resulted in an estimated annual loss to the state’s economy of $3.3 billion. These challenges persist today.

Employers in our region’s growth sectors need to get into the mix to support the early education and care field and help retain their parenting workers in the state. Meanwhile, MAPC is testing models for a skilled talent pipeline to support the early education and care field at this time of need. MAPC’s efforts within the Good Jobs Metro Boston Coalition childcare sector partnership – alongside the City of Boston and numerous other coalition partners – aim to make a dent in this pressing community and regional competitiveness issue. MAPC is supporting the Good Jobs Metro Boston Coalition to build the pipeline of early educators who want to join these great workforce training programs – check out the flyer below for more information. Do you know any jobseekers considering the childcare professions we should talk to? Don’t hesitate to get in touch!

Angela Brown – [email protected]

Community Advocates for Young Learners – [email protected]