CHILD CARE
CHAMPIONS
Why Child Care Matters
Working parents, and women in particular, have exited the labor force in record numbers.
From February 2020 to February 2021, 2.3 million women across the country left the labor force. While the economy has celebrated job gains since then, women’s labor force participation rate remains lower than it was before the COVID-19 pandemic. Access to affordable, quality child care helps ensure parents can continue working, thus ensuring economic security for families. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Seasonally Adjusted, Women 20+)
Businesses benefit from implementing family-friendly policies and supporting child care infrastructure.
Companies that offer child care assistance see employee absences decrease by up to 30% and turnover decline by as much as 60%. With turnover costs as high as 21% of a worker’s annual salary, this is a real cost-saving measure for businesses.
There is a gap in affordable, quality child care in the region.
In the Pittsburgh region, there is only enough capacity to provide care for 72% of children under six who need it. And high-quality child care is not accessible for all residents of Allegheny County. Learn more here.
Companies that offer child care assistance see:
30%
decrease in employee absences
60%
decline in employee turnover
Even before COVID-19, child care issues impacted the economy.
13%
of Pennsylvania working parents leave the workforce voluntarily or involuntarily every year, due to child care issues (Source: US Chamber Foundation)
Let's Get to Work
This “toolkit” is a community-wide approach to supporting and investing in our region’s child care infrastructure. The business community has a critical part to play in helping to build strong systems that will support children and families.
Click a page below to learn more about strategies for supporting child care.