New study shows decline in Nebraska child care workers

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — First Five Nebraska’s latest study shows a steady jump in net losses from child care.

According to a 2020 study, there was an annual loss of nearly $640 million in parent income due to child care, and another $731 million in business productivity.

Now, those numbers have nearly doubled.

According to the latest research, parent income losses have climbed to $1.6 billion, and business productivity losses exceed $1.7 billion.

It’s largely due to parents leaving or changing jobs because of child care concerns.

Employers say short-term disruptions in child care affect productivity, recruitment, and retention.

Katie Bass, the policy research manager for First Five, explains. “It really is that substantial change in parent experience with child care from disruptions around COVID has continued since then.”

The state of Nebraska, compared to six other Midwest states, has seen the largest percent drop in its child care workforce.

Between 2018 and 2023, it’s down 34.9%. The next closest is Colorado at 28. 7%.

JR Giron with First Five Nebraska says child care access is more than just a parent issue. “We want people to understand that child care is a community issue. It is not a child care provider or a parent issue. It belongs to the entire community.”

First Five Nebraska is suggesting several policy options to help alleviate the issue, including assisting moderate-income workers to afford child care, supporting larger employers in developing new child care facilities, and creating new child care slots by attracting and retaining workers in the industry.