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. After a large spike in turnover rate in 2021 to 40%, the rate has declined to 30% in 2023. 

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.