There’s No One Way Educators Work in Child Care

For years, the child care workforce has been discussed as if educators all want and need the same thing.

A full-time schedule.

A single center.

A fixed routine.

But real workforce data from 2025 tells a very different story.

Educators participate in child care in many ways, and flexibility is not a nice-to-have. It is what makes participation possible in the first place.

Educators Work in Different Ways and at Different Stages

Some educators rely on child care as their primary source of income.

Others work part time, seasonally, or between permanent roles.

Many balance work with caregiving, school, or other responsibilities.

In Tandem’s 2025 workforce data and surveys, there was no single participation pattern. How educators worked shifted based on life stage, availability, and support.

This diversity is not a weakness in the workforce.

It is one of its greatest strengths.

Flexibility Is What Enables Participation

Across surveys, flexibility consistently emerged as one of the most important factors influencing whether educators can continue working in child care.

• 52% of educators said flexibility and control over their schedule is the aspect of Tandem that helps them most
• 74% said flexibility made balancing work and personal life easier
• Over 50% said flexibility made it easier to stay in child care

For educators, flexibility means:

• Choosing when and where to work
• Adjusting schedules as life changes
• Staying connected to the field without burning out

As educators shared:

“What I like the most about Tandem is the flexibility. It’s perfect for me being a single mom and full time student. Tandem offers that flexibility for me to earn extra cash while doing what I love, which is working in child care.” – D.B., Cleveland, OH

“I like the flexibility and free will to travel to multiple schools and experience different cultures and settings that differ.” – N.W., Chicago, IL‍

"This is by far the biggest benefit. You get to browse available shifts in your area and choose only the ones that fit your life. This freedom to accept or decline shifts is a game-changer for people juggling school, family, or other commitments." - J.S., Chicago, IL

“I like the schedule flexibility and that I’m able to work recurring shifts at centers that I have a good relationship with.” – K.P., Chicago, IL

Flexibility does not signal a lack of commitment.

It signals a desire to stay engaged in a way that is sustainable.

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Part-Time and Temporary Work Are Not Gaps. They Are Bridges.

Temporary and substitute work play a critical role in the workforce ecosystem.

For educators, this work can:

• Provide income during transitions
• Offer exposure to different programs and environments
• Build confidence and relationships
• Create pathways to permanent roles

For programs, flexible staffing models:

• Expand access to available educators
• Reduce last-minute closures
• Create a pipeline for future hires

Many permanent placements begin with a positive temporary experience.

What This Means for Centers

Flexibility is not just something educators value.

It is something centers can actively design for.

Centers that support flexible participation tend to:

• See higher return rates from substitute educators
• Build stronger relationships over time
• Reduce burnout and turnover

Practical Ways Centers Can Support Flexibility

• Offer recurring shifts when possible to educators who are a good fit
• Share schedules and expectations in advance
• Allow educators to accept work that fits their availability without pressure
• View substitutes, float staff, and part-time educators as part of the long-term workforce, not just short-term coverage

Supporting flexibility does not mean lowering standards.

It means creating conditions that allow more educators to meet them.

Read the Full 2025 Workforce Report

The 2025 Workforce Report goes deeper into:

• How educators participate in the workforce
• What helps them stay in child care
• How flexibility, pay, and systems shape staffing stability

👉 Read the full Workforce Report

🧸 Crib Notes

• There is no single way educators work in child care
• Flexibility enables participation across life stages
• 52% say flexibility is the most helpful aspect of their work
• 74% say flexibility improved work-life balance
• Flexible staffing models strengthen retention and stability

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