The Infant-Toddler Child Care Crisis Exacts a Heavy Economic Toll Nationwide

ReadyNation’s new study examining the economic impacts of the nation’s infant-and-toddler child care crisis on working parents, employers, and taxpayers found an annual cost of $122 billion in lost earnings, productivity, and revenue. This figure means that this economic damage has more than doubled in the past four years, likely due to a combination of COVID-19 and insufficient policy action.

Using data on the proportion of the US Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and population each state represents, ReadyNation derived an estimate of the economic impact of the infant-and-toddler child care crisis in each state.

See the map below for the estimate for your state. For more information or media inquiries, contact communications@councilforastrongamerica.org.

©2023 ReadyNation

Cite data with proper attribution: ReadyNation (2023, January). $122 Billion: The Growing, Annual Cost of the Infant-Toddler Child Care Crisis https://www.strongnation.org/articles/2038-122-billion-the-growing-annual-cost-of-the-infant-toddler-child-care-crisis

Note: Color coding reflects differences in absolute (not relative) costs. Due to the method of deriving the cost estimates (i.e., multiplying each state’s percentage of the national GDP by the total national $122B impact) the estimated costs for each state is relative to its GDP.

Read our state reports:

Illinois: Child Care Crisis Costs Illinois’ Economy Nearly $5 Billion

Maine: The Growing, Annual Cost of the Infant-Toddler Child Care Crisis in Maine

Maryland: Strengthening Investments in Child Care Can Bolster Maryland’s Future

Mississippi: The Growing, Annual Cost of the Infant-Toddler Child Care Crisis in Mississippi

Pennsylvania: $6.65 Billion: The Growing, Annual Cost of Pennsylvania’s Child Care Crisis

South Dakota: The Growing, Annual Cost of the Infant-Toddler Child Care Crisis in South Dakota

Texas: The Growing, Annual Cost of the Infant-Toddler Child Care Crisis in Texas