Utah
Working families in Utah 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 Utah. But too many working families in Utah are missing out. As a direct result of child care issues, the Utah economy loses millions of dollars each year in the form of lost earnings, productivity, and revenue.
There are 290K children ages 5 and under in Utah – 53% of these children have all available parents in the workforce.
The typical annual cost of child care for an infant in Utah is around $11,000.
The Child Care and Development Block Grant only reaches 13% of eligible families in Utah. (This federal program helps low-income parents afford child care.)
On average, child care providers in Utah earn just $30,390 a year; this can make it a challenge to recruit and retain this workforce, leading to supply issues.
Utah’s economy loses $1.2B annually due to child care challenges.
Utah: In The Headlines
Report: Child care costs now surpass in-state college tuition in 41 states
KUTV | sEPTEMBER 24, 2025
In many parts of the country, parents pay more for child care than a mortgage or rent, putting formal care financially out of reach for many moderate and low-income families.
Utah child care provider says the free market can’t fix everything
WBUR | May 12, 2025
Here & Now’s Asma Khalid speaks with Kristyn Rose, a longtime child care provider in Hyde Park, Utah.
Opinion: Congressional funding for child care is crucial to supporting Utah families
Deseret News | May 15, 2025
“I traveled from southern Utah to Washington, D.C., to speak with congressional staff about the urgent need to fund the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program, our nation’s main child care investment.”
Utah Resources & News
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