There was an error. Please try again.
This page is already listed in your guide. Please choose a different page to add.
Au pair, Caregiver, Child Care Professional
In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.
The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used.
Here is how this occupation has been classified over time.
2006 NOC
2006 NOC-S
2011 NOC
2016 NOC
2021 NOC
2023 OaSIS
Nannies’ duties vary depending on the household and the number and age of children. In general, they:
Nannies also may keep records that include daily observations about each child, and information about activities, meals served and medications administered. Nannies usually receive instructions from their employers but often work with little supervision.
Child care is physically demanding work, frequently requiring lifting children and equipment weighing up to 20 kilograms. Nannies are on their feet most of the time.
Hours of work may vary and may require split shifts or weekends. Domestic employees (defined as persons employed to do work in the employer’s residence, for the care, comfort and convenience of members of that residence ) are exempt from overtime compensation or restrictions on maximum daily and weekly hours of work. For more details, see Domestic employees – Employment standards exceptions.
The work also can be emotionally demanding. Some nannies live in the same residence with their employers; others return to their own homes evenings and weekends. Live-in nannies have their own furnished rooms or suites but may be subject to restrictions regarding telephone calls, visitors or time away from home.
Nannies sometimes travel with the employing family on vacations. In some cases, live-in nannies have their health care premiums paid, are included in the family’s club memberships or are allowed personal use of a family vehicle.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2023 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
To find out how well this occupation fits your work personality types, complete the Work Personalities Quiz in Find Your Fit.
Click or tap a personality type for its description.
Find other alis occupations that match this occupation’s work personalities.
To identify or change your work personalities, complete the Work Personalities Quiz in Find Your Fit.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2023 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
Home child care providers
2023 OaSIS: 44100.01
The graph below shows how well your scores match the overall abilities for this occupation.
The closer your ability scores are to the center, the more they match this occupation’s. The further away they are, the less they match this occupation’s.
The lower your ability scores are compared to the occupation’s, the more challenging the occupation will likely be for you. The higher your ability scores are compared to the occupation’s, the less challenging the occupation will likely be for you.
To find out how well this occupation fits your abilities, complete the Abilities Quiz in Find Your Fit.
The 49 abilities are grouped into 5 abilities sets: Critical Thinking, Numbers and Patterns, Physical Activity, Mind-Body Coordination, and Senses.
Some abilities are more relevant to an occupation than other abilities. Individual abilities that are not relevant to an occupation are greyed out.
To fill in or change the values for your abilities, complete the Abilities Quiz in Find Your Fit.
Critical Thinking includes 9 abilities related to identifying and solving problems, thinking of ideas, and communication, such as speaking and writing.
This is how well your scores match the set of Critical Thinking abilities for this occupation:
Numbers and Patterns includes 10 abilities related to math, memorizing, and multitasking. It also includes how we perceive patterns, shapes, and distances.
This is how well your scores match the set of Numbers and Patterns abilities for this occupation:
Physical Activity includes 9 abilities related to strength, balance, flexibility, coordination, and endurance.
This is how well your scores match the set of Physical Activity abilities for this occupation:
Mind-Body Coordination includes 9 abilities related to movement control and how we react to signals. It also includes fine motor skills, such finger and hand dexterity and hand-eye coordination.
This is how well your scores match the set of Mind-Body Coordination abilities for this occupation:
Senses includes 12 abilities related to seeing, hearing, and speaking.
This is how well your scores match the set of Senses abilities for this occupation:
Nannies need:
A valid driver’s license and clean driving record may also be required, in order to run errands and take the children places. First aid and CPR training is also an asset. If any of the children in care have some sort of disability, special needs training may also be required. In some cases, knowing a second language may be an asset.
They should enjoy working with children, organizing meal preparation and housekeeping duties, and overseeing children’s activities.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups. If there are multiple related NOC groups, select a NOC heading to learn about each one.
This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 320 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Sep 09, 2025 and Oct 08, 2025.
Review these skills to learn:
| Tasks: Maintain a safe and healthy environment in the home | 289 |
|---|---|
| Tasks: Supervise and care for children | 283 |
| Tasks: Prepare and serve nutritious meals | 274 |
| Tasks: Discipline children according to the methods requested by the parents | 241 |
| Tasks: Instruct children in personal hygiene and social development | 239 |
| Tasks: Tend to emotional well-being of children | 238 |
| Tasks: Perform light housekeeping and cleaning duties | 228 |
| Tasks: Bathe, dress and feed infants and children | 216 |
| Tasks: Organize, activities such as games and outings for children | 215 |
| Work Setting: Employer's home | 205 |
There are no standard education requirements for nannies. Some employers consider related experience and the ability to care for children, cook, clean and get along well with others more important than formal education.
However, most families require job applicants to have a high school diploma or a certificate in Early Childhood Education. Character references usually are requested and some employers require police clearance. First aid certification and CPR training, and courses related to child care and child development are definite assets.
To ensure that those who apply for permanent residence in Canada will be able to succeed in the general labour market, federal legislation requires that live-in foreign nannies have the equivalent of a Canadian high school diploma, and either 6 months of caregiving training or a year of caregiving experience in the 3 years prior to application. For information about the program and live-in nannies’ rights and responsibilities, see the Government of Canada’s Live-in Caregiver Program website.
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
To expand or narrow your program options, visit Post-Secondary Programs and start your search with:
Completing a program does not guarantee entrance into an occupation. Before enrolling in an education program, prospective students should look into various sources for education options and employment possibilities. For example, contact associations and employers in this field.
There is currently no provincial legislation regulating this occupation in Alberta.
Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Nannies are employed by private individuals and agencies.
Nannies may move into other personal service jobs, such as home support aide or residential care aide. For more information, see the Health Care Aide occupational profile. Experienced nannies with the required business skills may open day cares in their homes, or start their own placement agencies.
This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Home child care providers
2016 NOC: 4411
98.0% of people in this occupational group work in:
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
This section shows the Alberta job market condition, or short-term demand forecast, for this occupation over a 3-year period. It also shows the number of people employed in the occupation.
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2021 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Source: 2024-2026 Alberta Short-Term Employment Forecast
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
To see data for all occupations, visit Occupations in Demand.
This section shows the employment outlook for this occupation in Alberta over a 5-year period.
Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.
Source: 2021-2025 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook
Annual growth is from 2021 to 2025. New positions created each year are in addition to job openings created by employment turnover.
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For examples, see Note.
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
Nannies employed in a private dwelling and who live primarily in their employer’s home are called domestic employees under the Alberta Employment Standards Code. As domestic employees, live-in nannies are entitled to a monthly minimum wage rather than an hourly minimum wage. (As of June 26, 2019, Alberta’s minimum monthly wage for domestic employees is $2,848 per month. For more information, see Minimum Wage and Domestic employees – Employment standards exceptions.)
Government of Canada website, Live-in Caregiver Program: www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/permit/caregiver-program.html
Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.
Updated Mar 31, 2021. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.
