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Childcare Cost Burden (Historical vs Current)
Comparison of childcare costs as a percentage of parental income over time.
Primary Sources
Chamber Report Highlights Child Care's Economic Impact
Apr. 5, 2026 at 5:35pm Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›The Greater Omaha Chamber released a comprehensive report examining how child care availability directly affects workforce participation and economic growth across the region. The report finds that inadequate child care has a significant economic impact, including an estimated $1.02 billion in lost business output, $919.2 million in lost labor income, and nearly 3,909 fewer jobs annually due to workforce disruptions. Why it matters Access to affordable, reliable child care is a critical factor enabling parents to participate in the workforce and supporting businesses' ability to attract and retain talent. This report underscores the economic importance of addressing child care challenges in the Omaha region. The details The report, commissioned with First Five Nebraska, analyzes the relationship between child care access, affordability, and workforce dynamics across the Chamber's eight-county, two-state region. It identifies a gap between supply and demand, with approximately 4,730 more children needing care than available licensed child care slots. Parents report difficulty accessing affordable care, with costs averaging $13,000 annually per child, while employers cite child care access as a barrier to hiring and workforce stability. The Greater Omaha Chamber released the report on April 5, 2026. The players Greater Omaha ChamberA regional business organization that advocates for economic growth and development in the Omaha metropolitan area.First Five NebraskaA nonprofit organization focused on early childhood education and care policy in Nebraska.Heath MelloPresident and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber.Jason ProkopCo-president of Early Futures Partnership, a local early childhood education advocacy group. Got photos? Submit your photos here. › What they’re saying “Across our ongoing engagement with employers, the Greater Omaha Chamber consistently hears that workforce availability remains a primary factor influencing business growth, expansion and retention decisions.”— Heath Mello, President & CEO, Greater Omaha Chamber“This report clearly illustrates the enormous economic impact of child care in the Greater Omaha area. It further reinforces the need for child care assistance for low-income families to ensure they can participate in the labor market and meet the workforce needs of our businesses.”— Jason Prokop, Co-president, Early Futures Partnership What’s next The Chamber pla...
Britt: Child care reforms 'a win-win for America's families and small ...
U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) believes that Republicans have made progress in addressing the issue of the high cost of child care across the country. During a recent visit to a child care center in Montgomery Alabama, Britt spoke with providers and advocates to discuss the impact of the updated child tax credits that were passed in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. “Affordable and accessible child care is a win-win for America’s families and small businesses,” Britt said on X. Affordable and accessible child care is a win-win for America’s families and small businesses. I visited a child care provider in Montgomery to discuss the child care tax credit updates Republicans secured in the Working Families Tax Cuts Act and my continued work to tackle the… pic.twitter.com/rWA37WbUgk — Senator Katie Boyd Britt (@SenKatieBritt) April 5, 2026 The senator helped pass Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC) updates that allow parents to offset the cost of child care while working, modernizing it for the first time in decades. Congress passed the $16 billion in new child care spending last year. Now families can get a bigger tax credit, working parents can claim up to half of child care costs, depending on their income, and businesses are getting bigger subsidies, which means workers get to set aside more pre-tax dollars Britt, who has made child care affordability a main priority, discussed the issue with NBC News. “I don’t have to ask people what it’s like to be raising kids right now,” Britt said. “So many of these things are things that I’ve experienced in my own life.” According to Labor Department data, American families spend up to 16% of their median income on full day care just for one child. “The dependability of child care, affordability, accessibility is an impediment to people who want to be in the workforce,” Britt concluded. Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” weekdays 9-11 a.m. on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee
How child care affects workforce participation in Kentucky
According to the report, workforce participation rates in Kentucky and the U.S. have been declining for more than 20 years. Kentucky research estimates that up to 28,000 new workers could join the labor force if child care became more affordable and accessible. With an annual estimated economic impact of over $1 billion.
Child Care: The Key to Boosting Workforce Stability
Explore the importance of affordable child care in today's economy and its impact on workforce participation and productivity.
