The Economics of Childcare

My friends, I have five beautiful boys, and as we continue to celebrate Women’s History Month, to me, supporting women means supporting a system that provides mothers with choices.  I understand the struggle firsthand of finding high-quality, affordable childcare. Raising children is expensive! It does take a village and a government willing to step up. In fact, when our fifth boy was born, we realized it would be cheaper and easier for my wife, Rocio, to quit her job to become a stay-at-home mother. That was in 2023. As a result, we are scraping by financially, but our boys are thriving. While that has been an incredible blessing for our home and our boys, this option is either not available or not economically viable for far too many families. I know the struggle you are facing firsthand. I pledge to fight for quality childcare for your family.

At its core, the childcare market is broken. It is an economic barrier that disproportionately prevents women from participating fully in the workforce. With families spending between 8.9% and 16% of their median income on care for just one child, many families are forced to choose between their careers and their children's care. But we can do better as a society. We should empower women who want to pursue a career with the resources they need, and we should empower families who want to have a stay-at-home parent with resources. I advocate for meaningful choice, not just a tough decision.

To support women in the workforce and boost the economy, childcare must be prioritized. That may mean expanding childcare facilities in some regions, expanding grants for new childcare providers in others, and providing families with resources to help them afford childcare nationwide. Regardless, we must empower families to make the choice that is right for them. Because right now, too many women are stuck.

Solutions to this multifaceted issue require significant policy investments to address childcare deserts, allocate federal funds appropriately, and stabilize a workforce that currently averages only $11.61 per hour. Let’s dive in.

The Childcare Desert Crisis

In the U.S., there are 7.3M single mothers, 1.6M single fathers, and 48.7M married parents. And childcare is an issue for all of them. More than half live in a childcare desert. A childcare desert is an area with more than 50 children under five and either no childcare providers or more than three times as many children as providers.  Over half (55%) of Oklahomans live in one, and for people in rural areas, that number jumps to 68%. The best time to address this critical issue was yesterday; the next best time is now.

There are many solutions to keep childcare services open. One important note on this topic is the balance among the funds families pay for childcare, the grant money they receive, and the gap between them. We must absolutely invest in childcare facilities through federal, state, and local grants. When childcare centers are not fully funded to meet community needs, they cannot afford to pay staff a livable wage. In Oklahoma, childcare workers make on average $11.61 per hour or $24,148.80 per year at full-time employment to watch your child. This causes many to work two jobs or leave their positions for others, leaving those centers short-staffed, and often leading to closure. On the other side of the coin, federal grant money is designed to increase funding for childcare facilities so that they can cover the per-child cost of attendance. If grants are not flowing, these centers must begin raising prices, and we are again stuck in a vicious cycle where facilities are underfunded, childcare is unaffordable, and the community's needs continue to go unmet.

Earlier this year, the federal government granted Oklahoma $14.7M to expand access to childcare, and that funding is little more than a drop in the bucket. Right now, hundreds of facilities in the state are at risk of closure because state funding for childcare subsidies is dropping from $57M to $7M this year. Childcare subsidies help parents who meet income requirements pay for licensed childcare while they are at work, in training, or pursuing an education. This funding is critical, especially for mothers. When we invest in childcare subsidies, we can boost maternal employment, increase family incomes, and improve outcomes for America’s children. Because I am pro-family, I believe we must address the critical issue of childcare deserts in the United States.

The Math Still Isn’t Mathing

U.S. families spend between 8.9% and 16.0% of their median income on full-day care for just one child, with annual costs ranging from $6,500 to $15,600 per child. To put this into perspective, the median cost of a year’s rent was $15,216 in 2022. These astronomical prices force families to choose between their paycheck and their child’s care. And these aren’t the only sacrifices being made. Reports show that in 2016, an estimated 2M parents made career sacrifices due to childcare problems, and mothers were more likely to report that childcare issues negatively affected their careers. This issue has plagued American women for far too long, and despite this, not enough is being done to keep women in the workforce. Women are more than just mothers. I know firsthand that women are superheroes, business owners, politicians, authors, teachers, police officers, and so much more. And most certainly, many of these women are also “mom.” Many mothers, especially single mothers, face the challenge of being their family's breadwinner and caregiver. It is time we give them the tools, resources, and support they need to thrive.

Why This Hurts Everyone

Failing to treat childcare as essential infrastructure hurts the economy in the long run. It is a ripple effect. The lack of childcare and the barriers families face do not just affect families; they hurt businesses and the overall economy. A study found that the childcare crisis costs the U.S. economy $172B each year. When mothers cannot locate or afford childcare, they are forced to leave work early, miss work, or arrive late, costing both them and their employers. Neither of the two benefits from this situation. These same women may also be forced to accept a job that accommodates their desired schedule rather than one that aligns with their professional education and experience. Productivity losses cause both families and employers to lose earnings, and when mothers cannot work, they cannot afford any care for their children. All this does is leave families to choose between their paycheck and their child’s care; all this does is leave many single mothers in poverty or unhoused. 

Truly improving childcare for children aged 0 to 5 is a direct investment in the future. For example, in Washington, D.C., universal public preschool led to a 12% increase in labor force participation among mothers. Another example, New York’s Mayor Mamdani just this month announced their plan to deliver free childcare for two-year-olds in NYC. Their investment will deliver affordable childcare for nearly 100,000 more kids. This just goes to show that the right type of investment can lead to a ripple effect that benefits us all. 

What Needs to Change

Many parents say raising children is unaffordable, especially in today’s economy. And they are probably right. This reality will continue until we properly address this crisis. Too many families must choose between rent and childcare, pursuing a career or raising their children, and investing in their children or sacrificing elsewhere. These tough decisions are unnecessary and harmful; they are the direct result of failed policy in the United States. We must invest in our children, and that means investing in America’s families.

I dream of living in a society that prioritizes families and children. We must invest in programs that provide a net benefit to everyday Americans, such as childcare and tutoring. To do this, we must expand the child tax credit, raise the minimum wage, and expand access to affordable childcare across the United States.

We cannot celebrate Women’s History Month without securing the future for the mothers working today. I am ready to do the work. Can I count on your support?

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Isabela Salas-Betsch, The Economic Status of Single Mothers, Center for American Progress (2024), https://www.americanprogress.org/article/the-economic-status-of-single-mothers/. 

 Zach Rael, “We Are in a Crisis”: Oklahoma Parents Grapple with Childcare Waitlists, Rising Costs, KOCO (2025), https://www.koco.com/article/oklahoma-child-care-waitlists-rising-costs/. 

Oklahoma and New Mexico Expand Childcare Access with New Funding, Grand Pinnacle Tribune (2026), https://evrimagaci.org/gpt/oklahoma-and-new-mexico-expand-child-care-access-with-new-funding-524787?srsltid=AfmBOop2o9w48GqErKAi_2fxPUgrqalhZLsOFvZzvviPiN4uzhq0nV5P

 Jaiya Brown, Oklahoma child care providers urge lawmakers to restore funding after subsidy cuts, KTUL (2026), https://ktul.com/news/local/oklahoma-child-care-providers-urge-lawmakers-to-restore-funding-after-subsidy-cuts. 

 Georgia Poyatzis and Gretchen Livingston, New Data: Childcare Costs Remain an Almost Prohibitive Expense, DOL Blog (2024), https://blog.dol.gov/2024/11/19/new-data-childcare-costs-remain-an-almost-prohibitive-expense. 

Leila Schochet, The Childcare Crisis is Keeping Women out of the Workforce, center for American progress (2019), https://www.americanprogress.org/article/child-care-crisis-keeping-women-workforce/. 

The Childcare Crisis Costs the U.S. Economy $172 Billion Each Year, Institute for Child Success (2026), https://www.instituteforchildsuccess.org/cost-child-care-crisis/.

Rasheed Malik, The Effects of Universal Preschool in Washington, D.C., center for American Progress (2018), https://www.americanprogress.org/article/effects-universal-preschool-washington-d-c/. 

Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani Announce Major Milestone Toward Launching Free Childcare for All Two-Year-Olds in NYC, Governor Kathy Hochul (2026), https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-and-mayor-mamdani-announce-major-milestone-toward-launching-free-child-care.