Child Care—Career Opportunities

Employment Outlook
Employment of preschool workers is expected to increase faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2014. The reason for such rapid growth results from an increasing population of children under the age of five, combined with an increase in mothers employed outside of the home. Employment potential in Illinois is large and stable.

Demand for child care centers and preschool teachers to staff them could increase further if more states implement preschool programs for 3- and 4-year-old children. Some states have already begun to implement this and others are planning to do this in the future. In addition, subsidies for children from low-income families attending child day care programs will result in more children being served in centers, as could the increasing involvement of employers in funding and operating day care centers. Legislation requiring more welfare recipients to work also could contribute to demand for child day care services.

Median Hourly Earnings of the Largest Occupations in Child Daycare Services, May 2007

Resource: Bureau of Labor Statistics May 2007 National Industry-Specific Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates.
For job and internship listings and job search assistance, contact the Job Resource Center in Building S, Room S202 at (708) 974-5737 or visit http://www.morainevalley.edu/jrc.