VISA ATLASWork visas & talent mobility

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
NOC42202TEER 2
Year by year
Data as at 2026
OC<CANEARLY<CHILDHOOD<EDUCATORS<AND<ASSISTAN
422022<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<4

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

7831,56520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
7831,565201620182020202220242026
Data table
2016120
2017196
2018132
2019392
2020397
2021353
2022718
20231,311
20241,565
2025862
202658
By province or territory
  1. British Columbia2,678
  2. Quebec1,445
  3. Alberta1,032
  4. Ontario798
  5. Manitoba51
  6. Nova Scotia40
  7. Saskatchewan24
  8. Newfoundland and Labrador12
  9. Yukon8
  10. New Brunswick7
  11. Prince Edward Island6
  12. Northwest Territories2
  13. Nunavut1
Employers with the most positions
  1. Little Munchkin Daycare Ltd.66
  2. SEA STAR EDUCATION LTD.65
  3. Kids and Company60
  4. G and F Entertainment Inc60
  5. Park Place Daycare Ltd.59
  6. BrightStart Children's Academy Ltd.33
  7. First Step Kids Education Inc.30
  8. Bethel Happy Daycare Center Inc28
  9. Childventures Early Learning Academy Inc28
  10. Kids and Company Ltd.27
  11. New Beginnings Early Learning (Richmond) Ltd25
  12. 2242345 ALBERTA LTD.24
  13. 1179094 BC LTD.23
  14. 1040246 B.C. Ltd.23
  15. Beacon Education Inc22
By stream
  1. Low-wage stream (TFWP)5,378
  2. High-wage stream (TFWP)476
  3. LMIA for permanent residence only130

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).

YearTFWP permitsIMP permits
20263351,210
2025910595
20241,255375
2023955195
2022485140
2021315180
2020305160
2019270180
2018150110
2017120125
20166580
2015560

All work permits by year

8151,630201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
8151,6302015201720192021202320252026
Data table
201565
2016145
2017245
2018260
2019450
2020465
2021495
2022625
20231,150
20241,630
20251,505
20261,545

Permanent residence

Admissions of permanent residents by intended occupation and Express Entry invitations by occupation (IRCC).

New permanent residents by year

1,0702,140201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
1,0702,1402015201720192021202320252026
Data table
2015335
2016480
2017395
2018330
2019715
2020330
20211,805
20221,065
20231,480
20242,110
20252,140
20261,995
Express Entry invitations since 2015, by programme
  1. Canadian Experience Class4,470
  2. Provincial Nominee Program3,585
  3. Federal Skilled Worker555

Wages

Median wage by province and territory (2025 release). Hourly unless marked per year.

AreaLowMedianHigh
CanadaC$16.95C$22.30C$30.03
AlbertaC$15.60C$19.00C$28.85
British ColumbiaC$19.00C$24.00C$30.00
ManitobaC$16.00C$18.00C$25.90
New BrunswickC$16.90C$23.47C$25.60
Newfoundland and LabradorC$16.00C$20.00C$27.33
Nova ScotiaC$16.50C$21.49C$28.21
OntarioC$17.60C$22.00C$31.00
QuebecC$18.00C$24.00C$30.03
SaskatchewanC$15.35C$18.75C$26.92
Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
9,308
Vacancies advertised
16,268
Median advertised minimum hourly wage
C$22.00