Choosing to care: examining the role of motivation, practicum experiences, and working conditions on aspiring childcare professionals in Flanders

The childcare sector is experiencing major staff shortages, putting pressure on the quality provided within childcare centers and consequently on the children. One cause of these shortages is the insufficient supply of new childcare professionals. This study examines pre-service childcare professionals’ intentions to enter the field in relation to the following three aspects: study choice motivation, practicum experiences and perceptions of working conditions. Data were cross-sectional collected through an online survey via schools from students (n = 177) enrolled in a 7th-year secondary vocational education program in Flanders (Belgium). Results indicate that only a minority of pre-service childcare professionals intend to enter the profession. Logistic regression analysis reveals that those who perceive good career opportunities (i.e. advancement to staff leadership) are more likely to enter the profession, as do those who showed a high degree of appreciation for the work during their practicum. However, study choice motivation did not affect their intentions to enter the profession, as motivation was uniformly high across all pre-service childcare professionals. These results suggest that only a minority of the pre-service childcare professionals are likely to enter the profession. Those who do, may advance to leadership roles and subsequently leave the childcare profession, exacerbating workforce shortages.