Turnover rates at early childhood education centers is important to keep low, in order for these centers to operate efficiently, and provide high quality services. Since 2021, Child Care centers in the region have been in between a 30%-40% turnover rate. This is in line with the national average of about 33%.  (McCormick Institute of early child care; 2025). 

Contributing Factors:

• Increases in promotion of education / certification programs for early learning career pathways. 
• Increases in bilingual course offerings. 

Limiting Factors:

• Lack of federal & state funding for high quality early childhood care. 

Per Dodge & Jefferson County Early Childhood education staff survey:

Unused capacity in group center child care programs was the result of an inability of centers to hire qualified staff as opposed to a lack of demand. 

Percent of centers reporting vacancies in their program because they could not hire staff to work in those rooms:  Dodge Co. - 50% | Jefferson Co. - 42%. 

Percent of centers reporting having full classrooms empty due to lack of staffing: Dodge Co. - 38% | Jefferson - 50%. 

Number of children that had to be turned away because program classrooms were closed due to staffing shortages: Dodge Co. - 103 | Jefferson Co. - 60. 

Data represents the total numbers of full-time and part-time employees that quit their employment during the year listed, per an employer survey. 

Early Childhood provider survey used is conducted once every two years. 

*Methodology Change* - The 2025 data was compiled by Department of Children and Families (DCF) background checks, not a provider survey.