The Rising Demand for Nannies During the Pandemic and Beyond
The State of Childcare in 2022
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, parents had to scramble to find childcare as daycares, preschools, and elementary schools closed their doors. As a result, the demand for Nannies increased drastically.
At the same time, families with existing Nannies extended their contracts in order to secure long-term childcare, which in turn, slowed down the usual Nanny turnover rate, making available Nannies even more scarce.
These factors are how the Nanny labour shortage began, so what’s been keeping it going over a year and a half later?
Where are all the Nannies?
If you and your family are still struggling to find a Nanny to care for your little ones, here’s what you need to know:
At the start of the pandemic, many families acted quickly and either hired a Nanny or retained their existing Nanny. This took many professional childcare providers off the market early on.
Some former Nannies have made the decision to transition out of working in childcare during the pandemic, out of concern for both their own health and safety and their loved ones.
There are currently fewer Nannies available to work, as many of the Nannies in Canada are/were only here on two-year work visas.
The majority of families only want to hire a Nanny that has been fully vaccinated, and unfortunately, not all Nannies are vaccinated.
What does the labour shortage mean for your family?
The demand for qualified, professional, fully-vaccinated Nannies is exceptionally high, while the supply is lower than ever. So, what does that mean for your Nanny search?
Expect to pay a higher wage. Nanny wages have soared as a result of the pandemic labour shortage, and we are seeing rates of $25 to $40 per hour across Canada.
Nannies may require medical benefits and/or additional paid sick days in their contracts. You can also expect to see a COVID-19 clause in the contract.
Nannies’ roles have changed over the past couple of years, as parents have transitioned to working from home and many children are attending school from home as well. These changes require increased and better communication, flexibility, and boundaries, as well as appropriate compensation.
All that being said, if you’re just beginning your Nanny search, or if you’re coming to the end of your contract and trying to decide whether to hire a new Nanny or not, don’t get discouraged! There are still wonderful Nannies out there who are looking for work.
It may take a little extra patience to find the right one for your family, but the peace of mind that comes with having safe, reliable, professional childcare is well worth it!
Where to start your Nanny search
Finding a qualified, professional, reliable Nanny can be an overwhelming task for any parent. That’s why we have a dedicated team of Nanny Placement experts ready to help you find your own Mary Poppins at The Nanny Solution by Nannies on Call.
Finding your ideal Nanny is a process that takes time and there’s no better time to start than now!