The Well-Being of the Early Childhood Workforce: Rural and Urban Differences

Abstract

The early childhood education (ECE) workforce shapes the developmental outcomes of the next generation. Despite the critical nature of this role, ECE providers face high demands and low resources, impacting their well-being, burnout, and turnover intent. Thus far, there is limited evidence on rural–urban differences in the relationship between job demands, resources and experiences of burnout and turnover. This study investigated if perceived job demands and resources differed for rural and urban ECE providers and if the relationship between job demands and resources and burnout and turnover varied by geographic setting, controlling for socio-demographic factors. With regards to socio-demographic factors, a much higher percentage of our rural sample identified as being Hispanic, had lower family incomes, and lower levels of education. There was a statistically significant difference in the emotional exhaustion element of burnout, such that the rural sample had a lower level of emotional exhaustion, on average, than our urban sample (16.2 vs. 21.0) (t-value = -2.03, p < .05), after controlling for significant socio-demographic variables. Predicting both burnout and turnover intent, the individual resources*rurality interactions effects were statistically significant (burnout: = 0.15, p < .05; turnover intent: = 0.14, p < .05), controlling for sociodemographic factors. It appears that individual resources for urban providers may be more protective against burnout and turnover intent. This is the first study to examine rural–urban differences in the relationship between job demands and resources and burnout and turnover. Findings suggest the need for policies that target individual-level resources, such as enhancing professional development and improving resource allocation to address socioeconomic disparities. Such policies and practice improvements could enhance well-being and retention for this essential workforce that educates young children throughout the United States.