Nebraska Childcare Workers Are Struggling

Imagine waking up ready to conquer the world, only to realize your toddler has decided today is the perfect day to test if their crayons are waterproof in the toilet, and you have absolutely nowhere to send them so you can go to work. This is the exact crisis plaguing Nebraska. While celebrating childcare workers with a high-five and a thank-you note is nice, it does absolutely nothing to fix a broken system. These folks are the literal engine driving the entire economy, yet they are burning out and closing up shop faster than a grocery store before a massive blizzard.

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Here are Five Fast Facts about childcare struggles in Nebraska:

1. 👶 Bad For Companies - The lack of affordable and available childcare is draining a massive $1.7 billion in lost business output from Nebraska, proving that crying babies are apparently very bad for corporate profits.

2. 💲 Missing Income - Nebraska is also bleeding a whopping $1.6 billion in lost labor income because parents are at home instead of earning a paycheck.

3. 📈 Doubled Over - These massive financial losses have roughly doubled since just the year 2020, showing that the state's childcare math is spiraling out of control faster than a calculus problem.

4. 😥 Hard Choices - This forces some tough choices for many families, as a striking 31% of Nebraska parents with young kids have been forced to completely quit the workforce just because they could not find a place to safely stash their offspring.

5. 🔍 Lost Jobs - In that same time, nearly 7k jobs have disappeared due to these severe childcare shortages, leaving businesses everywhere scrambling to find employees.

🔥Bottom line: This "workforce behind the workforce" needs a helping hand! The good news is that research shows treating childcare like infrastructure - meaning critical ongoing investment and attention - gives good results for kids, families, and the overall economy. Business leaders and politicians need to make smart policies that support these exhausted heroes so parents have options, companies have workers, and kids have the high quality care they deserve.

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Do you know a childcare worker? (If so, give them a hug and a big thank you…and advocate for better policies on their behalf!)

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