‘Childcare recruitment will dip into the sector’

KATRINE BUSSEY

daycare services were increasingly struggling to fill vacancies – with the number finding it difficult to do this rising from 30 per cent in 2014 to 35 per cent in its latest research.

The early learning and childcare (ELC) sector employs 39,030 staff in different settings, including childminders and staff in local authority and private nurseries.

The Care Inspectorate said: “We recognise expansion of the ELC workforce will likely draw on sections of the population who are also being recruited to work in other parts of the social care workforce.

“It is therefore important for workforce planning strategies to take account of this, ensuing that there is an overall increase in the ELC and wider social care workforce rather than increased competition for the same pool of potential recruits.”