How Child Care Benefits the Economy

A growing number of studies support the value of quality child care in promoting economic growth.  The Economic Opportunity Institute in Seattle Washington, has published a number of excellent reports that add to the case for quality early care and education.  For example, their policy brief, “How does high quality child care benefit business and the local economy?,”  the Institute reports…

• Employees with inadequate child care are more likely to be late for work, absent, or distracted on the job than parents who are confident about their child’s child care arrangements.  Employees may be forced to spend time at work or take time off to handle child care concerns.
• A 1992 survey found that nearly 30 percent of workers knew employees who quit their jobs because of inadequate child care.  Productive and valued employees who leave their jobs because of child care problems increase hiring and training costs.
• High rates of turnover, absenteeism, and low productivity cost employers money.  It is estimated that absenteeism caused by poor quality child care costs American business more than $3 billion a year.
• Working parents lose the equivalent of six days of work annually due to child care issues or problems, costing Seattle businesses approximately $112 million a year.

To read this full report (including extensive references on studies), as well as a more in depth policy paper, “The Early Childhood Education Career and Wage Ladder:  A Model for Improving Quality in Early Learning and Care Programs,” go to www.eoionline.org and click on the link “Early Learning and Care.”



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