With a shortage of child care in New Hampshire, businesses may lose approximately $56 million annually, according to InDepthNH. If we prioritize supporting educators in child care facilities, we may be able to rectify this situation.
Limited available child care leaves parents having to figure out other ways to keep their kids safe and cared for. Often this means parents cutting back or completely eliminating their work hours. For low-income families, this could be devastating; in 2023, N.H. families lost between $114 million to $178 million in earnings, according to InDepthNH. This loss of income affects families in a significant way. The only way to address the lack of childcare options and help families get back to work is to make childcare more accessible. In other words, we need more childcare facilities and more educators willing to take on the role of caregiver.
This is not an easy task, though. For more people to be able to take on childcare positions, we need to fix the entire system. Educators and caregivers are not treated well, and their wages are extremely low for the commitment they must make and the quality of work they must produce. If we put more money and resources into child care programs, we would have incentives for more people to enter the field and then we would have more available spots for children in programs.
In addition to families losing money due to the lack of childcare spots available, businesses are also losing large amounts of income. This loss is due to parents leaving the workforce to care for their children. With fewer people taking jobs, businesses are performing far worse than they would be if more parents could work. According to InDepthNH, “investing in childhood care and education infrastructure is one of the most effective ways to support working families, strengthen businesses, and drive long-term economic growth.”
We need to start valuing the work caregivers and educators do to keep our kids safe, happy, healthy and educated. An under-supported education system is the root of the problem, and until we can rectify it, the issues it creates will continue to grow. It is time to understand how important child care and education are and provide quality resources to programs. It is time to pay teachers their worth; only then will the workforce be able to grow and we can strengthen the economy with participants who feel valued and supported.
Sophia Tanguay can be contacted at
stanguay@kscequinox.com
