Use of child care services in Canada and mothers’ employment

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Release date: July 22, 2021
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Infographic: Use of child care services in Canada and mothers’ employment
Description: Use of child care services in Canada and mothers’ employment

Use of child care services in Canada and mothers’ employment

In 2017, approximately two-thirds of parents reported using child care for at least one child aged 12 or younger.

Use of child care was highest among parents with two children

  • 1 child: 59%
  • 2 children: 71%
  • 3 children: 63%
  • 4 children: 57%

Reported use of child care was highest among parents whose youngest child was 4 to 5 years of age and not in school 

Table 1
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 1. The information is grouped by Age of youngest child (appearing as row headers), Use of child care, calculated using Percentage units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Age of youngest child Use of child care
Percentage
Less than 1 year 15
1 to 3 years 64
4 to 5 years (not in school) 80
4 to 5 years (in school) 67
6 to 9 years 63
10 to 12 years 47

Child care use was lower among mothers who were unemployed (30%) or on leave (48%) than among employed mothers (74%).

A higher proportion of full-time working mothers used child care than part-time working mothers 

Table 2
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 2. The information is grouped by Age of child (appearing as row headers), Employed full-time and Employed part-time, calculated using Percentage who use child care units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Age of child Employed full-time Employed part-time
Percentage who use child care
1 to 3 years 87 77
4 to 5 years 86 76
6 to 9 years 79 65
10 to 12 years 66 49

Mothers who had a regular scheduleNote 1 were more likely to use child care

  • Regular schedule: 76%
  • Irregular schedule: 68%

Sources: Zhang, S., R. Garner, L. Heidinger and L. Findlay. 2021. “Parents’ use of child care services and differences in use by mothers’ employment status.” Insights on Canadian Society. July. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 75-006-X; Statistics Canada, General Social Survey, 2017.

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Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada.

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada as represented by the Minister of Industry, 2021

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