Early childhood educators and assistants
Occupation · NOC 2021 42202 · Canada
- NOC 2021 code
- 42202
- TEER
- 2
- Positions on positive LMIAs, all lists
- 6,104
- Median wage, Canada
- C$22.30 per hour
- Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
- 9,308
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About this occupation
Early childhood educators plan, organize and implement programs for children between the ages of infancy and 12 years. Early childhood educator assistants provide care for infants and preschool- to school-age children under the guidance of early childhood educators. Early childhood educators and assistants lead children in activities to stimulate and develop their intellectual, physical and emotional growth and ensure their security and well-being. They are employed in child-care centres, daycare centres, kindergartens, agencies for exceptional children and other settings where early childhood education services are provided. Supervisors of early childhood educators and assistants are included in this unit group.
Example job titles
- child care worker assistant
- daycare helper
- daycare supervisor
- daycare worker
- early childhood assistant
- early childhood education worker
- early childhood educator - preschool
- early childhood educator (ECE)
- early childhood educator (ECE) assistant
- early childhood program staff assistant
- early childhood supervisor
- preschool helper
- preschool supervisor
Main duties
- This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Early childhood educators
- Develop and implement child-care programs that support and promote the physical, cognitive, emotional and social development of children
- Lead activities by telling or reading stories, teaching songs, taking children to local points of interest and providing opportunities to express creativity through the media of art, dramatic play, music and physical activity
- Plan and maintain an environment that protects the health, security and well-being of children
- Assess the abilities, interests and needs of children and discuss progress or problems with parents and other staff members
- Observe children for signs of potential learning or behavioural problems and prepare reports for parents, guardians or supervisor
- Guide and assist children in the development of proper eating, dressing and toilet habits
- Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with co-workers and community service providers working with children
- May plan and organize activities for school-age children in child-care programs before and after regular school hours
Employment requirements
- Early childhood educators
- Completion of a two- to four-year college program in early childhood education or A bachelor's degree in child development is required.
- Licensing is required in Ontario and certification is required in British Columbia for early childhood educators. Licensing for early childhood educators is usually required in all other provinces and territories.
- Early childhood educator assistants
- Completion of secondary school is required.
- Experience in child care is required.
- Completion of an early childhood education assistant certificate program or post-secondary courses in early childhood education may be required.
- Licensing by a provincial or territorial association as an early childhood educator may be required.
Temporary foreign worker positions (LMIA)
Positions on positive LMIAs in ESDC employer lists, by year of the list.
Approved positions by year
Data table
| 2016 | 120 |
| 2017 | 196 |
| 2018 | 132 |
| 2019 | 392 |
| 2020 | 397 |
| 2021 | 353 |
| 2022 | 718 |
| 2023 | 1,311 |
| 2024 | 1,565 |
| 2025 | 862 |
| 2026 | 58 |
- Little Munchkin Daycare Ltd.66
- SEA STAR EDUCATION LTD.65
- Kids and Company60
- G and F Entertainment Inc60
- Park Place Daycare Ltd.59
- BrightStart Children's Academy Ltd.33
- First Step Kids Education Inc.30
- Bethel Happy Daycare Center Inc28
- Childventures Early Learning Academy Inc28
- Kids and Company Ltd.27
- New Beginnings Early Learning (Richmond) Ltd25
- 2242345 ALBERTA LTD.24
- 1179094 BC LTD.23
- 1040246 B.C. Ltd.23
- Beacon Education Inc22
Work permits
Work permit holders by year the permit took effect, mapped from NOC 2016 where the code has a single NOC 2021 successor (IRCC).
| Year | TFWP permits | IMP permits |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 335 | 1,210 |
| 2025 | 910 | 595 |
| 2024 | 1,255 | 375 |
| 2023 | 955 | 195 |
| 2022 | 485 | 140 |
| 2021 | 315 | 180 |
| 2020 | 305 | 160 |
| 2019 | 270 | 180 |
| 2018 | 150 | 110 |
| 2017 | 120 | 125 |
| 2016 | 65 | 80 |
| 2015 | 5 | 60 |
All work permits by year
Data table
| 2015 | 65 |
| 2016 | 145 |
| 2017 | 245 |
| 2018 | 260 |
| 2019 | 450 |
| 2020 | 465 |
| 2021 | 495 |
| 2022 | 625 |
| 2023 | 1,150 |
| 2024 | 1,630 |
| 2025 | 1,505 |
| 2026 | 1,545 |
Permanent residence
Admissions of permanent residents by intended occupation and Express Entry invitations by occupation (IRCC).
New permanent residents by year
Data table
| 2015 | 335 |
| 2016 | 480 |
| 2017 | 395 |
| 2018 | 330 |
| 2019 | 715 |
| 2020 | 330 |
| 2021 | 1,805 |
| 2022 | 1,065 |
| 2023 | 1,480 |
| 2024 | 2,110 |
| 2025 | 2,140 |
| 2026 | 1,995 |
- Canadian Experience Class4,470
- Provincial Nominee Program3,585
- Federal Skilled Worker555
Wages
Median wage by province and territory (2025 release). Hourly unless marked per year.
| Area | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | C$16.95 | C$22.30 | C$30.03 |
| Alberta | C$15.60 | C$19.00 | C$28.85 |
| British Columbia | C$19.00 | C$24.00 | C$30.00 |
| Manitoba | C$16.00 | C$18.00 | C$25.90 |
| New Brunswick | C$16.90 | C$23.47 | C$25.60 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | C$16.00 | C$20.00 | C$27.33 |
| Nova Scotia | C$16.50 | C$21.49 | C$28.21 |
| Ontario | C$17.60 | C$22.00 | C$31.00 |
| Quebec | C$18.00 | C$24.00 | C$30.03 |
| Saskatchewan | C$15.35 | C$18.75 | C$26.92 |
- Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
- 9,308
- Vacancies advertised
- 16,268
- Median advertised minimum hourly wage
- C$22.00
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