Minnesota's Early Childhood Educators: 2023 Statewide Study of the Demographics, Workforce Supports, and Professional Development Needs of the Early Care and Education Workforce

In 2023, Wilder Research in St. Paul contracted with the Minnesota departments of Education (MDE) and Human Services (DHS) in partnership with the Minnesota Children's Cabinet to conduct an Early Care and Education (ECE) Workforce Survey. The purpose of the study is to describe characteristics of the ECE workforce, assess educators' economic well-being, and describe their motivations for participating in training and professional development opportunities. The study included a survey of and focus groups with early childhood educators. For the purposes of this study, the authors defined "early childhood educator" as those who care for children professionally, regardless of their title. This study includes early childhood care and education professionals in the following types of programs: (1) Licensed family child care providers; (2) Licensed child care centers; (3) School-based early childhood programs, including public preschool/prekindergarten programs, Early Childhood Family Education, and Early Childhood Special Education; (4) Head Start and Early Head Start programs; and (5) License-exempt child care programs, both certified and uncertified, that serve preschool age.