Across all industries, from construction and manufacturing to technology and financial services, working parents rely on accessible, affordable childcare to remain employed. That’s why early childhood educators are often called the “workforce behind the workforce.”  

 

The availability of childcare depends on the supply of qualified and competent early childhood educators. When child care openings are limited, many parents are forced to reduce their hours, turn down job opportunities, or leave the workforce altogether. This creates a self-perpetuating cycle: a lack of early childhood education (ECE) professionals leads to fewer child care options, which in turn shrinks the available labor pool across all industries.  

 

The Challenge 

The ECE sector faces persistent workforce shortages, high turnover, and limited career pathways. The National Association for the Education of Young Children conducted a nationwide study in 2022 and found that:   Two-thirds of ECE employers reported staffing shortages  52% served fewer children than prior to the pandemic  37% maintained longer waitlists

The consequences go beyond the classroom. ReadyNation Council for a Strong America analyzed the economic impact of this crisis, and the numbers are staggering:  $78 billion annually in lost earnings and productivity for parents  $23 billion in reduced revenue and recruitment costs for businesses  $21 billion in lost tax revenue for taxpayers

 

Our Commitment  

 

The Early Childhood Workforce Connector (ECWC) is working to help break this cycle by building sustainable, scalable apprenticeship programs that strengthen the ECE workforce, because when ECE thrives, every industry benefits. 

 

Marjorie Cohen, ECWC’s senior subject matter expert, writes a monthly column in the Midwest Urban Strategies newsletter, MUS Connector, shedding light on why and how ECE is the foundation of a strong U.S. workforce across all sectors. As a newsletter for public workforce professionals and other stakeholders, the MUS Connector provides a forum for linking the workforce system to the need for qualified and skilled child care providers. These articles highlight the policies, programs, and dedicated program leaders who provide high-quality ECE opportunities for America’s children — truly the workforce behind the workforce. 

 

Stay informed by subscribing to the MUS Connector. Explore recent columns in the Workforce Behind the Workforce series: