New Jersey’s Child Care Workforce - An Examination of Administrative Wage Data from 2015 to 2023

Oct 15, 2026

This report examines annual employment trends, demographic characteristics, and wage patterns of New Jersey’s child care workforce from 2015 to 2023 using data from the New Jersey Statewide Data System (NJSDS). Results show COVID-19 caused a substantial workforce reduction and a shift toward more part-time work without full recovery. Wage growth is modest, yet compensation remains far below wages in comparable occupations, highlighting the need for strategic investment and policy reform to support stability and higher pay.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages26

Reading Time1 h 6 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Executive Summary

Key Takeaways

Introduction

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion

References

Appendix A: New Jersey Statewide Data System Methodology

Appendix B: New Jersey Child Care Workforce Demographic Tables

R U T G E R S C H I L D C A R E R E S E A R C H C O L L A B O R A T I V E # New Jersey’s Child Care Workforce: An Examination of AdministrativeWage Data from 2015 to 2023 A UTHORED BY Andrea Hetling, Ph. D., Ann Obadan, Ph. D., Liana Lin, and María BelénConde Oviedo Heldrich Center for Workforce Development October 2025 A B O U T T H E R U T G E R S C H I L D C A R E R E S E A R C H C O L L A B O R A T I V E ith funding and support from the New JerseyDepartment of Children and Families, theCenter for Women and Work, the Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, andtheNational Institute of Early Education Research at Rutgers,The State University of New Jersey have joined together toform the Rutgers Child Care Research Collaborative forthepurpose of conducting research and facilitating communityconversations that develop a broad and comprehensiveunderstanding of New Jersey’s child care landscape. Ourresearch aims to increase understanding about the needsand interests of parents in New Jersey, the supply andmotivationsofthe child care workforce, andthe capacityof the child care sector to meet demand for child caretoday and into the future within our diverse state. W Abstract ............................................................................................................ 4 Executive Summary ............................................................................................ 4 Key Takeaways............................................................................................................................... 5 Introduction ...................................................................................................... 5 Methods............................................................................................................ 6 Size and Annual Earnings of the Child Care Workforce by Employment Status .......... 8 Workforce Size and Earnings by Race/Ethnicity .................................................... 13 Workforce Size and Earnings by Sex ..................................................................... 15 Discussion......................................................................................................... 16 Conclusion ........................................................................................................ 18 References......................................................................................................... 19 Appendix A: New Jersey Statewide Data System Methodology ................................ 21 Annualizing Wage ......................................................................................................................... 21 Measuring Race and Ethnicity ...................................................................................................... 21 Constructing the Sex Variable ....................................................................................................... 23 Appendix B: New Jersey Child Care Workforce Demographic Tables ......................... 24 NEW JERSEY’S CHILD CARE WORKFORCE: AN EXAMINATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE WAGE DATA FROM 2015 TO 2023 3 New Jersey’s Child Care Workforce:An Examination of AdministrativeWage Data from 2015 to 2023 A UTHORED BY Andrea Hetling, Ph. D., Ann Obadan, Ph. D., Liana Lin, and María BelénConde Oviedo A B S T R A C T This report, the first in a two-part series, uses data from the New Jersey Statewide Data System(NJSDS) to examine annual employment trends, demographic characteristics, and wage patterns ofNew Jersey’s child care workforce from 2015 to 2023. Analysis shows that the COVID-19 pandemic hada severe impact on the sector, leading to a substantial reduction in the workforce and a shift towardmore part-time work, from which the sector has not yet fully recovered. Despite modest wage growthover the study period, compensation remains significantly lower than in comparable occupations

FAQs

What data source and time range does the report use?

The report uses data from the New Jersey Statewide Data System (NJSDS) to analyze the child care workforce from 2015 to 2023.

How did COVID-19 affect the child care workforce?

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a severe impact on the sector, reducing the workforce and increasing reliance on part-time work; recovery has not yet been complete.

How do wages compare with other occupations and the state median?

The report finds child care wages are low relative to the state median salary and remain significantly lower than compensation in comparable occupations, despite modest wage growth over the study period.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Maya Linwood