Untapped Potential: Economic Impact of Childcare Breakdowns in the U.S.
High-quality childcare supports children's development and enables parents to advance professionally, boosting workforce productivity. When childcare systems fail, it hinders both children’s opportunities and parents’ participation in work or education, with significant economic consequences. Accessible, comprehensive childcare remains an urgent need.
The U.S. Chamber Foundation conducted studies in states across the country to better understand the impact of the childcare problem in their communities. The reports estimated that collectively, states lost billions of dollars in economic activity due to breakdowns in childcare.
Featured Reports
Untapped Potential: South Carolina
New research shows childcare gaps cost South Carolina nearly $1 billion each year in lost economic potential.
Examining Breakdowns in Care, Implications for the Economy
The U.S. Chamber Foundation partnered with the Florida Chamber Foundation to produce this report, which aims to address the unique needs of working parents in Florida by exploring the current childcare landscape.
State Reports
- Getting Working Parents Back to Work in MichiganThe U.S. Chamber Foundation partnered with the Grand Rapids Chamber, the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, and the Early Childhood Investment Corporation (ECIC) on this report, to understand the unique needs of working parents in Michigan by exploring the current childcare landscape.Read the Report
- Supporting Childcare Solutions to Unlock Economic PotentialThe U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation partnered with United Way of Salt Lake, Voices of Utah Children, and the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce on this report to better understand the unique needs of working parents in Utah and examine the current childcare landscape.Read the Report
- Untapped Potential Report: AlaskaThis report underscores the unique needs of working parents in Alaska and examine the current childcare landscape. Since the height of the pandemic, Alaska’s unemployment rate has slowly started to return to pre-pandemic levels, falling by more than five percentage points since April of 2020.Read the Report
Untapped Potential in the News
Lack of affordable child care costs SC economy $1B annually, chamber study finds
Half of working South Carolina parents missed work at least once in three months for lack of child care. One in 10 reported quitting their job or getting fired, according to a survey by the state Chamber of Commerce.
Missouri House Approves Child Care Tax Credit Bill
The Missouri House is one step closer to passing a bill that plans to incentivize childcare funding and help childcare providers.
Latest Content
- New research shows childcare gaps cost South Carolina nearly $1 billion each year in lost economic potential.In the second installment of our Chamber Child Care Blog Series, Aaron explores how public-private partnerships across various states led to concrete initiatives that improved access to childcare.The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation studies found that state economies lost between $100 million and $10 billion this year because of childcare issues.To find innovative solutions, we must build innovative partnerships. State and local chambers and Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies (CCR&Rs) can combine their respective expertise to implement childcare solutions that are specific to the needs of their communities.Parents must consider various factors in determining the level and type of childcare solutions that best meet their needs. These factors make up what we’re referring to as the ‘Childcare Equation.’The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation today released a report examining the impact of childcare issues on Pennsylvania’s state economy. The study found that Pennsylvania loses an estimated $3.47 billion annually for the state’s economy.The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation today released a report examining the impact of childcare issues on Mississippi’s state economy. The study found that Mississippi loses an estimated $673 million annually for the state’s economy. This number includes an estimated $120 million annual loss in tax revenue as well as an estimated annual loss to Mississippi employers of $553 million on absences and employee turnover as a result of childcare breakdowns.
