New Briefs: Rutgers Child Care Research Collaborative

February 13, 2025

The Rutgers Child Care Research Collaborative has released two new research briefs by Heldrich Center for Workforce Development researchers.

New Jersey’s Childcare Workforce: An Examination of Internet Job Postings from October 2023, by Liana Lin, Brittney Donovan, and Andrea Hetling, Ph.D., outlines the research findings from the Heldrich Center’s analysis of Internet job postings from October 2023. The brief offers insights into job advertisements in the child care field, including position type, employment type, wages, and location. These findings offer insights into the demand for workers in the child care field.

Child Care Workforce Focus Group Summary Briefing, by Liana Lin, summarizes the preliminary findings from the Heldrich Center’s first series of focus groups with members of the child care workforce in New Jersey. Findings are organized according to four themes: motivation, workplace logistics and support, career planning, and perceived barriers and challenges.

The Rutgers Child Care Research Collaborative comprises the Heldrich Center, the Center for Women and Work, and the National Institute for Early Education Research, all based at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Funded by the New Jersey Department of Children and Families, the Collaborative conducts research and facilitates community conversations that develop a broad and comprehensive understanding of New Jersey’s child care landscape. This research aims to increase understanding of the needs and interests of parents, the supply and motivations of the child care workforce, and the capacity of the child care sector to meet the demand for child care today and into the future within New Jersey.

Brittney Donovan is a Research Project Coordinator at the Heldrich Center. Andrea Hetling, Ph.D. is Associate Director of the Heldrich Center and a Professor at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy. Liana Lin is a Research Project Manager at the Heldrich Center.

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