ECE staffing
Statistics on staffing in the ECE sector, including tables on numbers and characteristics of ECE teachers.
ECE Census SummaryUpdated: February 2024
The Early Childhood Education (ECE) census is administered every year and provides a snapshot of high level statistics for early learning in New Zealand. Data captured is for a one week period, typically the last week in June and includes information about the services, enrolment/attendance numbers, teaching staff, and the use of languages.
The following documents give an overview of key findings from the latest ECE census.
- A3: Participation in Early Learning 2023[PDF 353kB]
- A3: Services in Early Learning 2023[PDF 344kB]
- A3: Teaching Staff in Early Learning 2023[PDF 312kB]
The tables below provide statistics on the number of teaching staff and educators in ECE services. These include interactive pivot tables which allow you to create your own tables by any combination of variables available and time-series files which are pre-made tables which centre on key statistics.
Please note:
From 2014 the Early Learning Information (ELI) system was introduced to capture data electronically resulting in some definition changes, including how teaching staff are defined. In ELI the count includes all teaching staff who had contact with children during census week (including relievers and temporary staff). Prior to 2014, the paper-based form RS61 excluded relievers and temporary staff from its count. Therefore numbers are likely to be higher from 2014 and caution needs to be taken when comparing data collected pre and post 2014.
In 2022, 90% of licensed ECE services submitted their ECE returns through ELI. Only Te Kōhanga Reo, casual and hospital-based services submitted paper-based RS61 return.
Use of the pivot table spreadsheets requires MS Excel version 2007 or later.
Teaching StaffUpdated: February 2024
Numbers of teaching staff within licensed teacher-led ECE services by type of service, full-time, part time, qualification and registration status.
- Pivot Table: Number of teaching staff (2011-2023)[MS Excel 1.5mB]
- Pivot Table: Number of teaching staff by ethnicity (2019-2023)[MS Excel 692kB]
- ECE Teaching staff: Work status and total hours worked 2020-2023 [MS Excel 113kB]
- Time Series Data: Number of teaching staff by full-time/part time status (2011-2023) [MS Excel 48kB]
- Time Series Data: Number of teaching staff by qualification status (2011-2023) [MS Excel 49kB]
- Time Series Data: Number of teaching staff by registration status (2011-2023) [MS Excel 51kB]
Attestation for Certificated Teachers' SalariesUpdated: May 2024
Responses provided by Education and Care and Hospital-based services to the Attestation of Certificated Teachers' Salaries section of the RS7 Return. Services who attest to meeting certain salary conditions are entitled to higher rates of funding.
- Attestation for certificated teachers' salaries: Mar-2024[MS Excel 144kB]
- Attestation for certificated teachers' salaries: Nov-2023[MS Excel 141kB]
- Attestation for certificated teachers' salaries: Jul-2023[MS Excel 143kB]
- Attestation for certificated teachers' salaries: Mar-2023[MS Excel 140kB]
- Attestation for certificated teachers' salaries: Nov-2022[MS Excel 951kB]
- Attestation for certificated teachers' salaries: Jul-2022[MS Excel 152kB]
- Attestation for certificated teachers' salaries: Mar-2022[MS Excel 151kB]
- Attestation for certificated teachers' salaries: Nov-2021[MS Excel 151kB]
Home-based Educators Updated: February 2024
Numbers of educators within home-based ECE services by gender and other regional type variables.
- Pivot Table: Home-based Educators (2011-2023)[MS Excel 219kB]
- Time Series Data: Home-based Educators (2011-2023)[MS Excel 38kB]
Early Childhood Education Remuneration SummaryUpdated: February 2021
Between August and October 2020, Strategic Pay ran a survey of staff remuneration at education and care services, kindergartens, and home-based services. The average annual salary for a qualified teacher at an education & care service is $55,964, compared to $72,880 for qualified teachers at a kindergarten.
The following document gives a summary of the results of this survey.