A DOMINO EFFECT HITTING ALL OF US
U.P.
CHILDCARE
SHORTAGE
THE CHILDCARE SHORTAGE MEANS LESS PEOPLE IN THE WORKFORCE.
LESS WORKERS MEAN LESS CAPACITY FOR GROCERY, HEALTHCARE, RESTAURANTS, HOME SERVICES, AUTO CARE AND MORE.
PEOPLE OF ALL AGES HAVE TO WAIT LONGER FOR THE THINGS THEY NEED
LESS WORKERS MEAN BUSINESS SUFFER AND THE UP ECONOMY SLOWS
LESS WORKERS MEAN LOWER TAX REVENUES TO SUPPORT COMMUNITY NEEDS.
LESS WORKERS MEAN MORE PEOPLE ACCESSING STATE AND FEDERAL ASSISTANCE
U.P. EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES EXPERIENCE SETBACKS
OVER 300 EMPLOLYERS SURVEYED* ACROSS THE U.P. REPORTED THE FOLLOWING IMPACTS:
76%
BELIEVE CHILDCARE IS A PRIMARY FACTOR IN EMPLOYEE RETENTION
74%
EXPERIENCE EMPLOYEE ABSENSES DUE TO CHILDCARE
45%
HAVE PARENT-AGED EMPLOYEES MAKING UP THE MAJORITY OF THEIR WORFORCE
38%
LOST EMPLOYEES DUE TO CHILDCARE
38%
SAW LOST PRODUCITY DUE TO CHILDCARE SHORTAGE
23%
LOST CANDIDATES DUE TO CHILDCARE
FAMILIES STRUGGLE TO BALANCE CHILD CARE AND CAREERS
“I had to move from Houghton to Battle Creek where I had family, and more options to find an opening. I am no longer spending my significant engineering salary in the local community. Being a single parent (father), the place I loved was suddenly not realistic for me.”
“I would love to put my child in a good preschool, but I simply can’t afford it. The early years are so important for growth and learning and it’s really hard knowing that I can’t put her in better childcare simply because of cost.”
“You are told to start looking for daycare as soon as you find out you’re pregnant, because in the few options we have available, the waitlist for infants is sometimes YEARS long. It adds so much stress to your pregnancy.”
“I am extremely frustrated because where I am employed right now, the programs and support available are only beneficial to the higher paid employees. I don’t qualify for tri-share, though it’s offered, because my wage is too low. My position is extremely inflexible, and I fear that returning to work I will be forced to miss work due to lack of childcare options, and then I’ll be let go from my position.
A SHORTAGE OF AFFORDABLE, QUALITY U.P. CHILDCARE FOR FAMILES MEANS:
MANY PARENTS WITH SUCCESSFUL CAREERS ARE HELD BACK
WORKING PARENTS HAVE LESS DISPOSABLE INCOME BECAUSE OF CHILD CARE
SOME CHILDREN MAY NOT GET THE SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT THEY DESERVE