Indigenous and non-Indigenous early learning and child care workers in Canada

Photo by Alexander Dummer on Unsplash

Statistics Canada released an Indigenous and non-Indigenous early learning and child care workers in Canada report.

The report was authored by Kristyn Frank from the Centre for indigenous Statistics and Partnerships, Social Data insights, Integration and Innovation Branch; and Rubab Arim, from the Social Analysis and Modelling Division, Analytical Studies and Modelling Branch, at Statistics Canada.

The study looked at early learning and childcare (ELCC) workers in two occupational groups: early childhood educators and assistants (ECEAs) and child care providers (CCPs).

The report notes:

Researchers have found that attending early learning and child care (ELCC) programs is associated with better cognitive and developmental outcomes for young children and longer-term educational outcomes (Elek et al. 2020). Among Indigenous children, early childhood programs that focus on their community’s traditional cultural practices, identity and language have been found to act as protective factors, improving children’s language abilities and cultural pride (Elek et al. 2020; Morcom and Roy 2019). Educators who are part of Indigenous children’s own communities can play an important role in providing them with early learning experiences that reflect their cultural heritage and traditions (Anderson, n.d.). However, there is a shortage of Indigenous workers trained in early childhood education in Canada, partly because of challenges they face in acquiring training, such as costs, entrance requirements and residence in remote areas with restricted technology (Greenwood, de Leeuw and Ngaroimata Fraser 2007; Manitoba Moon Voices, Inc. 2017). While Indigenous ELCC workers play a key role in the early learning experiences of Indigenous children, little is known about the characteristics of these workers. This is primarily because of data limitations, such as small sample sizes, which prevent the dissemination of detailed information on First Nations, Métis and Inuit workers within specific occupational groups in Canada. The purpose of this study was to address this gap by using data from the 2016 Census long-form questionnaire. More specifically, sociodemographic and employment characteristics of Indigenous ELCC workers who identified themselves as First Nations people, Métis or Inuit are examined. Indigenous people residing on reserve or off reserve are included in the sample. Information about the sociodemographic and employment characteristics of non-Indigenous ELCC workers is also presented.

The report found that:

First Nations, Métis, and Inuit early childhood educators and assistants (ECEAs) and child care providers (CCPs) were more likely to be younger and less likely to have a postsecondary education, compared with their non-Indigenous counterparts. Moreover, First Nations and Inuit ECEAs were more likely to have two or more children aged 5 years or younger in their census family compared with non-Indigenous ECEAs. Similarly, First Nations, Métis and Inuit CCPs were more likely have one child aged 5 years or younger in their census family compared with non-Indigenous CCPs.

Interestingly, although ELCC occupations are female-dominated, First Nations ECEAs and CCPs were more likely to be men than non-Indigenous ECEAs and CCPs. Moreover, both First Nations and Inuit ECEAs and CCPs were more likely to be paid employees, but less likely to work full-time compared with their non-Indigenous counterparts. Métis CCPs were also less likely to work full-time compared with non-Indigenous CCPs. Differences were also observed across industry sectors. For example, a higher proportion of Indigenous ELCC workers than their non-Indigenous counterparts were employed in the social assistance sector.

The authors of the report express the hope that the results from the study will contribute to a better understanding of the sociodemographic and employment characteristics of Indigenous ECEAs and CCPs by examining these factors separately for First Nation, Métis and Inuit workers where possible. They recommend that further data analysis could prove useful, particularly information on wages and the characteristics of workers at a regional level.