I have to say, I’ve spent a good deal of time poring through government employment data, but I was pretty floored to see that 33% of childcare workers are self-employed, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data reported by U.S. News & World Report this week. Any kind of self-employment brings challenges, so luckily for those in childcare, there are several specialized groups that have stepped in to help, offering professional development courses to help with marketing and customer service. The Childcare Education Institute offers online courses to make professional development even more convenient. For our part, Freelancers Union has long supported childcare worker issues, from offering access to health insurance to partnering with groups like Domestic Workers United, which just last year passed a landmark Bill of Rights to set minimum standards for these workers in New York. (photo by Tom M. Brown, via Flickr)