Child care affordability for working parents

Child care is unaffordable for the majority of working parents, especially low-income and black and Hispanic parents
Published: 11.14.2018 Updated: 11.21.2022

Child care is an important work support for families. However, the cost of care can be a barrier for families seeking center-based child care. This new analysis estimates that for parents who are highly attached to the labor force, almost two thirds would have a difficult time purchasing full-time center-based child care for their children ages 13 and under.

Headshot of Pamela Joshi
Pamela Joshi
Policy Research Director
Erin Hardy
Erin Hardy
Senior Research Scientist , NORC
Headshot of Dolores Acevedo-Garcia
Dolores Acevedo-Garcia
Director, Professor of Human Development and Social Policy