Work Environment
This occupation is typically found in the following Career Sector(s):
Videos on the Web
- Childcare Worker- from: Youtube Search
- Child Care Worker- from: YouTube Video
Most commonly reported Work Activities
- Assisting and Caring for Others Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
- Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
- Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
- Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
- Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
- Organising, Planning, and Prioritising Work Developing specific goals and plans to prioritise, organise, and accomplish your work.
- Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
- Performing General Physical Activities Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
Working Life
Childcare workers supervise and monitor the safety of children in childcare settings.
This can encompass organising meal and nap times, keeping the children entertained, helping them with their hygiene, and facilitating their development with learning activities.
The Childcare worker will have to ensure the daily routine provides the with enough physical activity and rest, as well as watching out for their physical and emotional safety.
Most commonly reported Work Tasks
- Maintain a safe play environment.
- Observe and monitor children's play activities.
- Communicate with children's parents or guardians about daily activities, behaviors, and related issues.
- Support children's emotional and social development, encouraging understanding of others and positive self-concepts.
- Care for children in institutional setting, such as group homes, nursery schools, private businesses, or schools for the handicapped.
- Sanitise toys and play equipment.
- Dress children and change diapers.
- Keep records on individual children, including daily observations and information about activities, meals served, and medications administered.
- Identify signs of emotional or developmental problems in children and bring them to parents' or guardians' attention.
- Instruct children in health and personal habits, such as eating, resting, and toilet habits.
Further Information
- Childcare Inspector- from: N.C.S. [UK]
- Childminder- from: N.C.S. [UK]
Qualities - Childcare Worker
You will be a helpful person, who is good at communicating with children and is able to keep track of multiple tasks at a time.
Interpersonal skills are very important, and not only the ability to talk to children as communicating with parents and colleagues is also crucially important.
You should also be able to explain simple concepts and be able to patiently instruct children on activities.
Physical stamina is also surprisingly important, days can be long, with much of it spent on your feet, thinking and talking.
Interests - Childcare Worker
This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:
Social
The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.
Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.
Creative
Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.
Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.
Administrative
Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.
They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.
Entry / Progression - Childcare Worker
The following are the official recommendations in relation to the necessary qualification requirements for working in a childcare service:
All staff working with children will need to have a full Level 5 qualification in Early Years care and Leaders will need a full Level 6 qualification.
***Garda vetting will form part of the application process to be a childcare worker in Ireland***
Sample Education and Training Pathways
A number of courses are available throughout the country that focus on learning and skills that may be useful for this career. The examples and links below may guide you in your research.
Further Education (FET)
Further Education & Training (FET) Courses are delivered by local ETBs, ranging in duration from several weeks up to 20 months. Courses are designed to meet the labour market needs and often include a large element of work experience.
Example search terms include: Childcare.
Search for FET Courses
PLC Courses (FET)
PLC courses are full-time courses, one or two years duration, with awards at Level 5 and 6 on the NFQ. They are offered nationally in Schools and Colleges of Further Education.
Example search terms include: Childcare.
Search for PLC Courses
Higher Education CAO (Undergraduate)
Higher Education courses at Levels 6 to 8 on the NFQ, delivered in Universities and Technological Universities & Institutes. Courses run from 2 – 5 years and places are allocated on a points-based system, processed by the Central Application Office.
Example search terms include: early childhood care and education.
Search for CAO Courses
Pay & Salary - Childcare Worker
Salary Range (thousands per year)* €28k - €45k
Salaries vary by employer, location, role & duties, and experience.
Data Source(s):
Payscale/ Salary explorer / Indeed / FORSA/ PAS
Last Updated: February, 2024
Labour Market Updates - Childcare Worker
Note: The following information relates to occupations that include: Nursery nurses and assistants and playworkers, Childminders and related occupations, Playgroup leaders.
This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2025).
Employment growth was below average for childminders and related roles with some fluctuation in levels since 2019; employment declined by 1,100 persons since 2023. Almost all employed were female and approximately half were working part-time.
Despite the fall in employment, there was a high level of recent job hires, indicating a high level of turnover for these roles. In addition, a relatively high number of jobseekers registered with DSP in
December 2024 were classified as previously employed in childcare roles. Vacancies notified through DSP Jobs Ireland were mainly for early years educators, playgroup leaders and childcare practitioners. New employment permits issued were mainly for playgroup leaders.
Demand for these roles will be determined by demographic factors (i.e. the falling number of 0–4-year-olds in the population), the levels of childcare usage and Government childcare strategies such as the National Childcare Scheme.
There is significant supply from education and training for these roles, with approximately 5,300 awards across NFQ levels 4-9, although the extent to which this represents new supply or upskilling of the current workforce is unclear.
Useful Contacts - Childcare Worker
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Childminding Ireland, The National Childminding Association of Ireland Ltd
- 9 Bulford Business Campus, Kilcoole, Co Wicklow.
- (01) 287 8466
- [email protected]
- Click Here
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Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
- 43-49 Mespil Rd, Dublin 4.
- (01) 647 3000
- Click Here
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Early Childhood Ireland
- Hainault House, Belgard Square Tallaght Dublin 2
- (01) 405 7100
- [email protected]
- Click Here
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Early Childhood Ireland
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Tusla – Child and Family Agency,
- Floors 2-5, Brunel Building, Heuston South Quarter, Dublin 8.
- (01) 7718500
- [email protected]
- Click Here
