RESEARCH
Data shapes our mission.
Each year, child care failures cost the United States billions.
in wages
$
27
for business
$
399980000000
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Parents want to work
but child care is unaffordable
and inaccessible
The case for businesses
Economic impacts from other states
Parents want to work
- 30% of Utah parents have had to cut back on work hours because of unmet child care needs.
- 44% of Utah parents surveyed said they would utilize child care to work more or further their education.
- $29 billion in wages are lost annually by working families who do not have access to affordable child care and paid family or medical leave.
but child care is unaffordable
- 63% of Utah parents can’t afford child care
- In Utah, infant care is 53% more expensive than college tuition
- Child care that costs more than 7% of a family’s income is considered unaffordable.
- Single parents in Utah pay 34% of their income for infant care, and 60% for two children.
- Married parents pay 12% of their income on child care.
and inaccessible
- 52% of Utah children under 6 have all available parents in the workforce.
- There is 1 slot for every 4 children who need child care.
The case for businesses
Why companies should offer child care solutions:
- Employee absences decrease by up to 30%.
- Employee turnover declines by as much as 60%.
- Businesses can retain the 72% of millennial women in the workforce by supporting them with family friendly benefits.
- 83% of millennial’s say they would leave their jobs for one with more family-friendly benefits.
Economic impacts from other states
Economic Impact Learned from Other States
Before states started conducting their own studies to determine the economic impact of inadequate access to child care, the latest national numbers were:
- U.S. businesses lose $4.4 billion annually due to employee absenteeism as the result of childcare breakdowns.
- U.S. businesses lose $4 billion annually due to loss of productivity as the result of childcare breakdowns.
Compare estimates for the country with state-specific calculations
Absences and turnover due to child care breakdowns cost employers:
Economic losses from absences and turnover due to child care breakdowns:
| State | Tax Revenue Lost | Economic Activity Lost |
| Louisiana | $117 million | $1.1 billion |
| Maryland | $84 million | $1.3 billion |
| Georgia | $105 million | $1.8 billion |