A shortage of licensed child care spaces in Huron County is taking a direct toll on local families and the regional economy.
Huron County is working to address a significant workforce demand for daycare, with an expansion of 264 community-based child care spaces by the end of 2026. To do that, Huron County needs about 25 additional Early Childhood Educators to support the new spaces, particularly for infant and toddler programs where educator-to-child ratios are lower.
Chidren's Services Manager Cheryl Patience said expanding access to child care supports families, businesses, and the broader local economy.
Patience explained that access to child care is essential to support workforce participation and economic growth.
"When families cannot secure licensed child care, parents may delay returning to work, reduce their hours, or decline employment opportunities," she continued. "Child care availability also affects local employers, who depend on a stable workforce to maintain services and meet community needs."
Huron County’s growth plan identifies Goderich, South Huron, and Clinton as priority areas for child care expansion, while emerging needs were also identified in Howick, Blyth, and Walton.
"Huron County maintains a centralized waitlist through the OneHSN Child Care Registry and Waitlist," Patience pointed out. "While waitlist data can include families seeking future care, alternate placements, or before- and after-school programs, the centralized waitlist continues to demonstrate strong demand for licensed child care across Huron County."
Patience revealed that feedback collected through the County’s service planning process shows continued demand for infant and toddler spaces, as well as part-time and extended-hours care. However, Patience said exact numbers are difficult to nail down.
"A single waitlist number would not provide an accurate picture of the community's child care needs, as the system includes registrations across multiple program types and circumstances," she continued. "Families may join the waitlist while planning for future care needs, exploring different placement options, registering for before- and after-school programs, or even before a child is born. As a result, the number of registrations does not directly reflect the number of children seeking an immediate placement."
Patience noted that wages for eligible Registered Early Childhood Educators are competitive.
"For eligible Registered Early Childhood Educators (RECEs) working in CWELCC-enrolled programs, the provincial wage floor increased to $25.86 per hour in 2026, with a minimum of $26.86 per hour for RECE supervisors," she stated. "Actual wages may be higher depending on the employer, position, and experience."
However, Huron County faces rural workforce challenges, including competition from other sectors and employers, scheduling requirements for some child care positions, and geographic factors that can affect recruitment and retention.
Huron County recently launched a campaign to attract new or returning childcare workers to the field.
