Last week, we examined the disparities in median wage for child care workers and preschool teachers compared to other teachers. The labor market structure – monopoly, monopsony, or competitive labor market- affects wages. A report by Bivins, Mishel, and Schmitt suggests that a firm’s market power also influences wages. Research indicates that professions with a high concentration of women workers earn lower salaries, and occupations that provide personal care earn lower wages. Many economists attribute differences in earnings to the supply of and demand for labor, human capital – skills and expertise, and discrimination.
The labor supply for child care workers and preschool teachers is influenced by who has the skills for the job. Although experience is the best way to gain these skills, completing educational training is often a prerequisite to gaining experience.
May I See Your Credentials
At least 96 percent of the degrees conferred in child care provider/assistant and early childhood education and teaching were awarded to women. Since 2000, the number of associate’s degrees conferred in child care provider/assistant has more than quadrupled, increasing from 1,161 degrees in 2000 to 5,719 degrees in 2020 ( See Table 1). The growth in associate’s degrees conferred in child care provider/assistant can be attributed to the increase in degrees awarded to Hispanic women, which increased from 94 degrees in 2000 to 2,920 degrees in 2020 (See Table 1). Hispanic women earned 30 times more child care provider/assistant associate’s degrees in 2020 than in 2000. Hispanic women were 8 percent of the child care provider/assistant degrees conferred in 2000 to women but were 51 percent of the degrees conferred to women in 2020. Additionally, Hispanic men were 53 percent of the child care provider/assistant degrees conferred to men in 2020, up from 5 percent in 2000.
Total degrees conferred at the associate’s level for early childhood education and teaching increased when comparing 2010 and 2015 but then showed a decrease for 2020 compared to 2015 (See Table 2). Hispanic women were the only group to have an increase in degrees conferred for the years analyzed. Although the number of childhood education and teaching associate degrees conferred to Asian women was nearly four times higher in 2020, 159 degrees in 2020 increasing from 43 degrees in 2005, Asian women were less than 1 percent of the degrees conferred to women. In 2020, Hispanic women were 26 percent of the childhood education and teaching associate degrees conferred to women. Hispanic men were 34 percent of the childhood education and teaching associate degrees conferred to men.
Some trends found at the associate’s level for childhood education and teaching degrees conferred continue at the bachelor’s level. For example, more bachelor’s degrees were conferred to women in childhood education and teaching in 2015 than in 2010 or 2020. Hispanic women earned 3 times as many bachelor’s degrees in childhood education and teaching in 2020 than in 2005. Asian women earned more than 2 times as many bachelor’s degrees in childhood education and teaching in 2020 than in 2005. For White women, the number of degrees earned in childhood education and teaching in 2020 was slightly higher than in 2005.
Early Experiences with Diversity
The data in the tables above tell two stories. First, a diverse group of women receiving educational training to be “skilled” child care professionals will result in a more diverse profession. This is good news, given children aged 0-5 are more diverse. A more diverse child care profession increases the likelihood that these children will have a teacher who looks like them.
Second, the increased representation of Hispanics at the associate’s level, which is generally lower pay, may mean these families are more vulnerable to being the working poor.
Children Still Need Care
With the potential of a Government shutdown looming, conversations about extending the American Rescue Plan child care funding seem less urgent. If the Government does shut down before extending the child care funding, do you think Uncle Kevin or Uncle Chuck will babysit? Asking for a friend.
