ANZSCO 4211-11 Northern Territory

Child Care Worker September 2017

Current labour market rating No shortage
Previous labour market rating (September 2016) No shortage
Comments
Employers were generally able to attract suitable applicants and successfully fill their vacancies.
Survey results1
 A survey of employers who have recently advertised for child care workers shows 88 per cent of
vacancies were filled, an increase compared to the 79 per cent filled in 2016.
o 83 per cent of certificate III level vacancies were filled, a slight increase compared to the 82 per
cent filled in 2016.
o 89 per cent of diploma level vacancies were filled, compared to 77 per cent in 2016.
 Despite the number of applicants increasing to 2.3 applicants per vacancy compared to 1.3 in 2016,
employers averaged one suitable applicant per vacancy.
 Thirty-three per cent of vacancies in regional areas were unfilled compared to 11 per cent of
vacancies in metropolitan areas, with Metropolitan employers having twice as many suitable
applicants per vacancy.
 All employers required applicants to have the relevant quantifications for a Diploma in Early
Childhood and either attained or studying a Certificate III in Early Childhood.
Unsuitable applicants
 All unqualified applicants, who were not willing to undertake studies to achieve Certificate III or
Diploma qualifications, were considered unsuitable.
Demand and supply trends
 There was a 2.5 per cent increase in the number of children using child care services (across all
service types) in the Northern Territory between September 2015 and September 2016, and the
number of child care services operating within the Northern Territory increased by 1.6 per cent over
the same period. 2
 The number of people employed as child care workers in the Northern Territory has decreased over
the year to August 2017.3 However, the Department of Jobs and Small Business occupation

1
The methodology underpinning this research is outlined at Skill Shortage Research Methodology | Department of Jobs and Small
Business - Document library, Australian Government and can also be accessed by the QR code.
2 Department of Education and Training, Early Childhood and Child Care Summary publications for the April 2017 (for September 2016 period), noting
quarterly statistics averages
3 ABS, Labour Force Australia, August 2017, Department of Jobs and Small Business, Trend Data

Labour Economics Office Northern Territory

Department of Jobs and Small Business
 projections show significant growth in this occupation of 18.1 per cent nationally over the five years
to May 2022. 4
 The Department’s Internet Vacancy Index (IVI) shows that the number of online vacancies for as
child care workers increased in the 12 months to August 2017 compared with the previous 12
months.5
 Certificate III and diploma courses in Early Childhood Education and Care are available through a
number of registered training organisations in the Northern Territory. 6
 The Education and Care Services National regulations requires at least 50 per cent of educators in a
service to have (or be actively working towards) at least an approved diploma level education and
care qualification, with the remainder of educators required to have (or be actively working
towards) a certificate III qualification in that field.7
 The number of students undertaking certificate III or diploma level training for child care workers
fell by almost two per cent in 2016.8

4 Department of Jobs and Small Business, Occupational Employment Projections to May 2022
5 Department of Jobs and Small Business Internet Vacancy Index data, August 2017, 12 month moving average.
6
Myskill website
7
http://acecqa.gov.au/national-regulations
8 NCVER, Total VET students and courses, program enrolments, 2016.

Labour Economics Office Northern Territory

Department of Jobs and Small Business