New Mississippi Poll: Child Care Costs Drive Affordability Concerns, Voters Want Lawmakers to Act

Mississippi — With just one week until the midterm elections, new statewide polling from McLaughlin & Associates, conducted on behalf of First Five Years Fund and Mississippi First, finds that Mississippi voters are deeply concerned about affordability and the strain high child care costs are placing on family finances. More than three-quarters of voters say child care costs are part of the broader affordability crisis, with parents feeling the pressure particularly acutely. Nearly half say child care costs are preventing them from saving or getting ahead financially, while more than one-third are cutting back on household essentials to afford care. The findings also underscore the broader impact of child care challenges on Mississippi’s families, workforce, and local economies.

Voters overwhelmingly agree that finding and affording quality child care is a serious problem and support lawmakers taking action to make care more affordable and accessible. The findings also underscore the connection between affordable child care, families’ financial stability, and Mississippi’s workforce and economy.

AFFORDABILITY IS TOP OF MIND FOR MISSISSIPPI VOTERS

Mississippi voters are concerned about the cost of living, with the price of gas, energy, utilities, and groceries topping the list of household expenses they are most worried about. The findings underscore the financial pressures facing families across the state, particularly parents managing the high cost of child care.

• 73% of voters identify the price of gas, energy, and utilities as one of the two costs they are most concerned about, followed closely by food and groceries (72%).
• Nearly half of parents (48%) say child care costs are preventing them from saving money or getting ahead financially.
• 36% of parents are cutting back on other household essentials to afford child care.
• One-third of parents (33%) say they are struggling to pay for child care.

For parents already managing high household expenses, child care costs are making it harder to cover basic needs, build savings, and plan for the future.

MISSISSIPPI VOTERS SEE CHILD CARE AS PART OF THE AFFORDABILITY CRISIS

Mississippi voters overwhelmingly recognize child care as part of the broader affordability crisis and agree that finding and affording quality care is a serious challenge for working families.

• More than three-quarters of voters (76%) say child care costs are part of the country’s affordability crisis, including 40% who say they are a big part of the crisis.
• 71% of voters believe the ability of working parents to find and afford quality child care is either “in a state of crisis” or a “major problem.”
• More than half of voters (54%) are concerned that young families may leave Mississippi or choose not to have children because they cannot find affordable child care.

Together, these findings show that the availability and affordability of child care affect more than household budgets. They also shape families’ decisions about their futures and Mississippi’s ability to attract and retain young families.

CHILD CARE IS CLOSELY CONNECTED TO MISSISSIPPI’S WORKFORCE AND ECONOMY

Mississippi voters also recognize the broader economic benefits of expanding access to quality child care, including its role in helping parents enter and remain in the workforce.

• 77% of voters agree that increasing access to high-quality child care would strengthen Mississippi’s economy and workforce.
• 56% of voters agree that labor shortages throughout the state are due in part to the lack of quality, affordable child care.
• Nearly half of voters (45%) say they or someone they know would consider entering the workforce if quality child care were available, while 50%  say child care challenges of their own or their coworkers have affected their workplace a lot or some.
• 85% of voters say access to quality, affordable child care is important or essential to Mississippi’s economy and workers’ ability to provide for their families.

These findings underscore the connection between child care access and Mississippi’s economic future, from helping parents participate in the workforce to supporting employers’ ability to attract and retain workers.

CHILD CARE MATTERS TO MISSISSIPPI VOTERS AT THE BALLOT BOX

Mississippi voters also recognize the importance of lawmakers’ decisions about child care funding and access.

• More than half of voters (52%) say they would be less likely to vote for a candidate for the Mississippi state legislature if they learned that the candidate failed to fill a funding gap that would cause thousands of children to lose access to child care assistance.
• More than four in ten (42%) say they would be much less likely to support that candidate.

MISSISSIPPI VOTERS SUPPORT STATE AND FEDERAL INVESTMENT IN CHILD CARE

Mississippi voters support a role for both state and federal policymakers in helping working families access and afford quality child care and early learning opportunities.

At the state level:

• 63% of voters believe ensuring more working families have access to affordable, quality child care should be an important priority for Mississippi in the next year.
• Nearly two-thirds of voters (65%) believe state investment in early childhood education programs is an effective way to strengthen Mississippi’s long-term economic growth.
• More than half of voters (51%) say Mississippi spends too little on child care.
• 60% of voters believe the state should pay child care providers enough to cover the actual cost of providing care, rather than maintaining current reimbursement levels.

At the federal level:

• 72% of voters believe federal funding for child care and early learning programs for low-income working families is a good investment of taxpayer dollars.
• Nearly three-quarters of voters (74%) believe federal funding for quality child care programs for working parents should be increased or maintained at current levels.
• 62% of voters support the Child Care Modernization Act. The bipartisan legislation would strengthen the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG), the federal program that helps low-income working families afford child care. 
• 77% of voters support Head Start.

These findings demonstrate broad support for investments and policy solutions that help families access affordable child care and early learning programs.

BOTTOM LINE

The results point to a clear message from Mississippi voters: child care costs are adding to the financial pressures facing families, and making care more affordable and accessible is an important priority. Voters recognize the connection between child care, household affordability, and the state’s economic future, and support state and federal efforts to expand access to quality, affordable care for working families.