Accessing affordable and reliable childcare is a significant challenge for millions of American families. Many parents sit on waitlists for months, forced to cut hours or leave jobs due to a lack of available childcare options. The numbers highlight the severity of this issue: as of 2023, 69% of kids under 6 had all parents in the workforce, yet half the country lives in areas where licensed care is scarce. In places where safe, high-quality childcare is available, it can often be unaffordable. Department of Labor data indicate that the annual median cost of childcare for a single child ranges from $5,357 to $17,171, depending on age and county size. In many states, care for an infant or toddler can cost more than in-state college tuition.
The affordable childcare shortage is not just impacting families—it’s holding back the economy. An estimated 1.2 – 1.5 million workers, mostly mothers, have scaled back or left jobs due to childcare struggles, costing the US billions in lost productivity. Meanwhile, average pay for childcare professionals is $14.60 an hour. As low wages cause childcare workers to leave the field, the staffing shortage will likely worsen.
With so many Americans feeling the pressure of rising childcare costs, policymakers on both sides of the political spectrum agree that action is needed.
Proposals include:
