The number of childminders has halved in Scotland between 2012 and 2023, new figures have shown.
According to statistics from the Care Inspectorate, the total figure has fallen for seven consecutive years, plummeting from 6,274 in 2012 to 3,225 in 2023 (49%).
Scottish Labour has accused the SNP of presiding over “a decade of decline” of childminding in Scotland.
Ministers warned that this decline risks doing lasting damage to childcare services in Scotland.
Scottish Labour spokesperson for Children and Young People Martin Whitfield said: “The SNP has presided over a decade of decline in Scotland’s childminding services.
“Childminders are a key part of Scotland’s childcare system, but the SNP has let this sector collapse.
“Families are being failed by this decline and robbed of options for flexible, high-quality care.
“This drop has serious consequences for our entire childcare system and drove a fall in capacity last year.
“It’s time to deliver a change in direction after years of failure and act to support families and childminders.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The decline in childminder numbers in recent years is a trend we are seeing across the UK and is not a challenge which is unique to Scotland. We value the important role childminders play and we have worked with the Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) and other partners to understand this decline, and take steps to better support, recruit and retain childminders.
“As part of this, we launched an innovative three-year recruitment and retention programme last summer, backed by £1m of Scottish Government funding, with the SCMA to ensure more families have access to childminders.”
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