Child Care Availability: A Key Driver of Economic Health

The impact of child care availability and affordability on families is not a theoretical concern; it is a pressing issue with immediate consequences. The Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey shows that in North Carolina, during  April and May of 2024, 29% of respondents aged 25 to 39 reported that their child was unable to attend child care as a result of child care being closed, unavailable, unaffordable, or because they were concerned about their child’s safety in care. When parents and caregivers are unable to access child care, their ability to participate in the workforce decreases, and cycles of poverty are reinforced.

North Carolina doesn’t have enough available spaces for the number of families that need and want child care. Statewide data reveals that more than five families compete for each licensed child care space available. Read the full report here.