In 1996, the child care fields employed about 2.3 million workers, and opportunities in these fields are expected to grow at a faster than average rate through the year 2005. The training and qualifications required of child care workers vary widely. Each state has licensing requirements that regulate caregiver training, ranging from a high school diploma, to community college courses, to a college degree in child development or early childhood education. Child care workers, families, and employers all benefit, however, when child care workers have greater education and training opportunities. Although child care workers in private households earned median weekly earnings of $198 in 1996, early childhood teaching assistants had median weekly earnings of $231. Better-trained child care workers can compete for jobs with higher wages and better benefits. For example, preschool teachers in public schools who gain state certification generally have salaries and benefits comparable to kindergarten and elementary school teachers. (This report contains an annotated resource list of 6 publications for employers concerning providing high-quality child care and 10 resources for prospective child care workers.) (KC)