In the United States, the high cost of child care and lack of adequate government support have created a crisis for working parents, especially mothers. A recent study found that more than 10% of young children had a parent who had to quit, turn down, or drastically change their job due to child care issues in the past year. This burden falls most heavily on mothers without college degrees, who face lower pay and limited paid leave options.
Nicole Slemp, a former secretary, is one of many women forced to leave their jobs due to the high cost of child care. Despite her desire to continue working, she had no choice but to stay home with her young son. The dilemma is common for mothers like Slemp, who often feel pushed out of the workforce due to financial constraints.
Sociologist Jessica Calarco points out that the image of the stay-at-home mom as an affluent woman with a high-earning partner is misleading. In reality, many stay-at-home moms are those who have been pushed out of the workforce because they cannot afford child care.
Even for those with college degrees, the high cost of child care can be a career-ender. Jane Roberts, a teacher, had to take unpaid leave to care for her newborn when she and her husband realized sending him to daycare was too expensive and finding a quality provider in their town was difficult.
The financial burden of child care can be overwhelming for low- and middle-income mothers. Adriane Burnett, a single mother, spends over a third of her monthly income on care for her 3-year-old. When her child aged out of a program that provided subsidies, she had to take on more work, including food delivery, to make ends meet. The financial stress and guilt over missing time with her kids have taken a toll on her health.
Even for parents who can afford child care, searching for it and paying for it can consume a significant amount of time and energy. Daizha Rioland started looking for child care when she was five months pregnant with her first child, but she was already behind on waiting lists. She finally found a program for her daughter when she was 18 months old, but the tuition was so high that she could only attend part-time.
The child care crisis has a significant impact on women’s participation in the workforce. A Labor Department study found that a 10% increase in the median price of child care was associated with a 1% drop in the maternal workforce.
Nicole Slemp wonders how she ended up staying home with her son, a time she cherishes but also finds disorienting. She thought she was doing well in her career, but the high cost of child care made it impossible for her to continue working.
The child care crisis is a complex issue with no easy solutions. However, it is clear that government support and policy changes are needed to address the problem and empower parents to fully participate in the workforce.
