New Brookings Report: Child Care Costs Continue to Strain Family Budgets

The hidden cost of child care: What NH businesses need to know

Kendra Lewis, Ph.D New Hampshire businesses are facing a workforce challenge that goes beyond wages and hiring. Across the state, nearly 17,300 workers each month are sitting out of the labor market because they can’t find or afford child care, and most NH employers offer little to no paid leave. These aren’t just family issues; they’re business issues, with measurable costs in turnover, absenteeism and lost productivity. Before we get into how …

New Brookings Report: Child Care Costs Continue to Strain Family Budgets

A new report released by Brookings states that millions of families across the country are struggling to make ends meet due to the rising cost of child care. With child care costs increasing at a higher rate than inflation, families with young children have cited child care as one of their top affordability concerns. For many families, the decision to enroll in child care is linked to their ability to afford other basic necessities, like groceri…