There are more than 46,000 educators employed at early education programs across the state of Massachusetts. Early educators across programs provide quality education, safe spaces, and socio-emotional learning tools to our state’s youngest learners while also supporting the ability of families to participate in the Commonwealth’s labor force. They are the workforce behind the workforce.

In recent years, the state has increased its investment in and focus on the early childhood education workforce – this report reviews the challenges facing the workforce, progress that has been made so far, and offers steps forward to maintain momentum and build on existing investments. Building a strong ECE workforce is essential to the growth, equity, and sustainability of the childcare system.