Economy & Business
Child care is an integral pillar to supporting a thriving economy, with 27 million Americans relying on it to work. The national shortage of affordable child care programs is doing significant harm to family finances, businesses’ bottom lines, and the U.S. economy broadly.
Here are five things to know about child care and our economy.
- The United States economy loses an estimated $122 billion a year due to child care challenges.
- On average, businesses lose $1,640 a year for each working parent due to lost revenue and hiring costs because of insufficient child care, totaling $23 billion annually.
- 77% of small business leaders say access to high-quality, affordable child care is essential or important to strengthening the economy and helping workers.
- Investments in high-quality child care and early learning programs can generate up to $7.30 per every dollar invested.
- The availability of early childhood education programs attracts homebuyers and increases property values by $13 for every dollar invested in programs.
Learn more:
Posts
Lawmakers Seek to Save Child Care Industry through Dedicated Federal Relief
Representative Haley Stevens (D-MI) and dozens of members of the U.S. House of Representatives have written a letter urging Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to provide additional …
Lawmakers and Advocates Call for Child Care Relief as States Face Shortages
Child care providers across the country, many of whom were already struggling to stay open before this crisis, are facing even greater challenges as enrollment declines exponentially due to the …
Child Care in the House’s Most Recent COVID-19 Economic Stimulus Package
The House recently passed the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act (the HEROES Act), a $3 trillion economic stimulus package introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which …
Survey: Only 1/4 of Child Care Providers Received PPP Funds
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) released the findings of a recent follow-up survey of child care providers who applied for relief under the Paycheck Protection …
Major Updates on Federal Relief Efforts for Child Care Providers and Families
Since the outset of the COVID-19 health and economic crisis, Congress has taken important steps to provide relief to America’s families, small businesses, and major industries as they struggle with …
Letter to Congress Requesting Dedicated Relief for Child Care in COVID-19 Recovery Package
This week, FFYF and a group of the nation’s leading early childhood, business, and community advocacy organizations wrote to Congress urging lawmakers to include dedicated relief for child care in …
NEW NATIONAL CAMPAIGN: Child Care Relief Aims to Stabilize and Rebuild America’s Child Care System
Stakeholders from across the economy join forces to secure critical relief from Congress that will stabilize and strengthen America’s child care industry through the economic recovery and beyond WASHINGTON—Today, a …
ChildCare.gov Adds Resources about Child Care and COVID-19
To help families across the country find information about child care, the Administration for Child and Families (ACF) hosts a national consumer education website, ChildCare.gov. The website serves as a …
Legislation in Response to COVID-19 Supports Providers and Families
Recognizing the essential role of child care — its proven benefits to a child’s learning and healthy development and its support of America’s labor market and economy by allowing parents …
Half of America’s Child Care Providers Are Closed, According to New NAEYC Survey
The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) released the findings of a new survey of more than 5,000 child care providers across the country, which paints a …
Child Care & COVID-19: Unemployment Benefits in the CARES Act
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act is a $2.2 trillion economic stimulus bill that passed with near unanimous, bipartisan support in the House and Senate and was …
Nation’s Leading Child Care Advocacy Organizations Call for More Child Care Relief in Follow-Up to CARES Act
WASHINGTON – Today, the First Five Years Fund and a dozen of the nation’s leading child advocacy organizations are calling on Congress to provide additional relief for the thousands of …
