By Alejandra Londono Gomez and Alycia Hardy, Center for Law and Social Policy, August 18, 2021
It is no secret that the cost of child care is unbearable for most families. In many states, the monthly cost of child care often exceeds the average mortgage payment and the annual cost is higher than in-state college tuition. Historically, this cost has fallen to parents and providers as the child care system has been significantly underfunded. The lack of funding exacerbates the structural racism embedded in the system and disproportionately affects families of color, women, and single parents.
To make matters worse, the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the child care system, significantly impacting parents and providers. The pandemic has made it even more difficult for families to afford the high cost of care. Moreover, the lack of affordable child care falls most directly on women, whose labor participation has fallen drastically throughout the pandemic. The risk of mothers’ departure from the labor force or reduced work hours as the result of caregiving needs could cost up to $64.5 billion per year in lost wages and economic activity. Investing in an equitable system that supports families, children, and essential workers who are caring for them, is crucial to the economic recovery of our country.
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