Minnesota
Working families in Minnesota need accessible, affordable, quality child care and early learning opportunities for their children.
Currently, federal and state early learning programs reach thousands of young children and their families in Minnesota. But too many working families in Minnesota are missing out. As a direct result of child care issues, the Minnesota economy loses millions of dollars each year in the form of lost earnings, productivity, and revenue.
There are 410k children ages 5 and under in Minnesota – 74% of these children have all available parents in the workforce.
The typical annual cost of child care for an infant in Minnesota is around $20,000.
The Child Care and Development Block Grant only reaches 10% of eligible families. This federal program helps low-income parents afford child care.
On average, child care providers in Minnesota earn just $31,580 a year; this can make it a challenge to recruit and retain this workforce, leading to supply issues.
Minnesota’s economy loses $2.1B annually due to child care challenges.
Minnesota: In The Headlines
Opinion: Child care doesn’t have to be this terrible
mINN POST | sEPTEMBER 22, 2025
It was only after months of expensive child care stress that I learned other countries don’t do it this way.
Minnesota is losing more child care providers amid rising costs and sticky red tape
96.5 | sEPTEMBER 24, 2025
For many Minnesota families, the biggest challenge of raising kids isn’t bedtime battles; it’s the steep price tag that comes with child care.
Opinion: Child care is fundamental to women’s workforce participation
Minnesota Star Tribune | sEPTEMBER 21, 2025
Access and affordability must be part of the equation.
Minnesota Resources & News
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