Solutions to Stop the She-Cession
ReadyNation members participate in a discussion with legislators to share how child care impacts the economy
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On October 20, 2021, U.S. Representative Jackie Speier (D-CA) hosted a roundtable with three members of ReadyNation to discuss how the infant-toddler child care crisis impacts the U.S. economy. Participants included: Antwanye Ford of Washington, DC, CEO, Enlightened, Inc.; Vice Chair, U.S. Black Chambers; Jan Jones Blackhurst of Nevada, Board Member and former EVP, Caesars Entertainment; Former Mayor of Las Vegas; and Hugh Welsh of New Jersey, President, DSM North America and Co-Chair of the ReadyNation CEO Task Force on Early Childhood. Congressman Andre Carson (D-IN) also shared taped remarks in support of mitigating child care challenges.
The event focused on how to address the lack of infant-toddler child care that is driving workers, particularly women, out of the workforce, a phenomenon known as the “She-cession.” Women are leaving the workforce and not returning. Research from ReadyNation reported that female workforce participation is at its lowest rate in more than 30 years. One of the main reasons women cite for exiting the workforce is a lack of affordable, quality child care. The three business leaders urged Congress to act decisively now to address child care as one of the biggest barriers to economic recovery and growth. They specifically called on Congress to:
- Increase and sustain public investments in our nation’s child care system;
- Foster business innovation and partnership to help extend the impact of public investments; and
- Expand and update provisions in the tax code that will enable businesses to further contribute to increased access and supply of affordable, quality child care.
Senior Hill staffers, including Republicans and Democrats from both chambers, attended the event. Members of ReadyNation recognize that child care is essential to the healthy development of children and the health of our economy and look forward to continuing this conversation to work with lawmakers to address the child care crisis and strengthen our workforce.
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