Lack of child care is impacting business’ bottom line?
Lack of child care is impacting business’ bottom line?
We are convening industry leaders across the state—from the Coast to the Columbia Basin—to advocate for comprehensive solutions to the child care system.
Washington STEM supports cradle-to-career education starting with early learning and care, which research has shown is crucial for students aiming for high-demand STEM careers.
Become a Champion for Child Care
1. Know your data:
- Family Friendly Workplace regional reports
- State of the Children regional reports
- State of the Children data dashboard
2. Get involved:
- Sign up for a virtual convening in September and learn how you can share with Olympia how lack of child care has impacted your business or industry.
- STEM Networks: Get connected to local advocacy organization
- Connect with Washington Communities For Children in your region
3. Get informed:
- How to find affordable child care and child care subsidies in Washington, The Seattle Times, June 4, 2024
- Can the child care crisis be fixed? Q&A with U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, The Seattle Times, May 2024
- Congress is sending less child care help, so states like WA are stepping in, The Seattle Times, May 2024
- In WA and beyond, a child care crisis is holding parents back, The Seattle Times, May 2024
- Public spending on childcare and early learning Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, February 2023
- More Republicans back spending on child care saying its an economic issue, Seattle Times, February 2024
- Why Google, General Mills and other are ending on-site child care, Fast Company, February 2024
- Questioning the Promise of Employer-sponsored child care, New America, February 2024
Business benefits from stable child care:
![](https://washingtonstem.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/CCC-icons-5-e1713886291427.png)
Increased productivity: In 2019, Washington businesses suffered $2B in lost productivity due to employee’s lack of child care (Nationwide $122B/year.). An estimated $6.5B in direct and opportunity costs is lost due to employee child care issues.
![](https://washingtonstem.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/CCC-icons-6-e1713886322453.png)
Stable reliable workforce: One-third of workers quit their job, school, or training due to child care issues. Access to child care lowers worker absenteeism and turnover.
![](https://washingtonstem.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/CCC-icons-7-e1713886358755.png)
Foundation for a STEM-ready workforce: Investing in quality early care and education is the foundation of a strong education to workforce pipeline.
What’s at stake:
![](https://washingtonstem.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/IMG_1601-scaled-e1713374459699.jpg)
U.S. lags behind in early learning:
For decades, the U.S. has lagged far behind other nations’ spending in early learning. A comprehensive early learning system will improve education outcomes, lower youth incarceration rates and better health outcomes.
![](https://washingtonstem.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/CCC-hero-image-options-e1712873064939.jpg)
Shift workers and small/medium businesses left out:
Employer-sponsored onsite child care centers only reach a sliver of the workforce and can go away overnight, leaving workers stranded. Nearly two-thirds of U.S. businesses have less than 10 workers, many of whom rely on shift work during non-standard hours, or work part-time or are freelance/gig workers. Employer-funded solutions are not viable options for these businesses.
![](https://washingtonstem.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WY_IMG_9743-Edit-scaled-e1712873102193.jpg)
Employers struggle to keep their workforce:
Three-fourths of employees report difficulty finding child care in their areas. The Association of Washington Business reported that businesses suffered $2B in lost productivity due to employee’s lack of child care. Nationwide, these costs to business have doubled since the pandemic to an astounding $122B/year.
Advocate for comprehensive child care solutions in 2025:
In 2024-25 we’ll host virtual industry-centered convenings to support making real changes to our child care system.
This starts with having conversations with employers and businesses about the realities of managing a workforce struggling to find child care.
Join us and become a child care champion and we’ll also provide opportunities for you and your business to advocate for broader solutions.