United Way of PA and the Early Learning Investment Commission Release Child Care Report on Working Families and Businesses

Harrisburg, PA – United Way of Pennsylvania (UWP) in partnership with the Early Learning Investment Commission (ELIC) releases a report which demonstrates that both employers and workers recognize child care is essential to Pennsylvania’s economic rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic. The Child Care is Essential for Working Families and Businesses report combines the results from ELIC’s survey of business leaders in Pennsylvania, and UWP’s survey of households, both conducted earlier in 2021.   

“Lack of accessible, affordable, and high quality child care has inhibited Pennsylvania’s economic recovery. This is clearly demonstrated through the perspectives of both businesses and the workforce in this new report,” said Kristen Rotz, President of United Way of Pennsylvania and Executive Director of PA 211.  

The Child Care is Essential for Working Families and Businesses report indicates that 45% of respondents with families had to adjust their work to accommodate their child care needs. Juggling work and child care needs were among the top concerns of respondents to a COVID-19 impact survey UWP conducted in March 2021. Financially-strained working families known as ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed), did not have adequate support during the pandemic to balance work and their children’s needs. This resulted in parents reducing hours or resigning from jobs to care for their children.  

More than half (54 percent) of employers believe they lost employees due to a lack of child care during the pandemic. This is based on a sample of businesses participating in a business survey, which was a partnership of the Early Learning Investment Commission and the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry.  

“Accessible and affordable high-quality child care is essential for working parents to secure employment, succeed in their job and advance in their careers. Businesses need child care to improve recruitment, retention and productivity of their employees. All of these things help propel Pennsylvania’s pandemic recovery,” Rotz said.   

The Child Care is Essential for Working Families and Businesses report includes links to a variety of resources that can help connect families and employers to child care information and assistance, and learn how to become better advocates for working families with child care needs. 

For more information about COVID-19 pandemic resources, visit www.uwp.org. For free, immediate and personalized help, reach out to PA 211! Visit PA211.org, Dial 211 or text your zip code to 898-211.  

About United Way of Pennsylvania (UWP) 
 

United Way fights for the health, education and financial stability of every person in every community. The United Way of Pennsylvania is a 501(c)(3) was created in 1966 as Community Services of PA and was renamed in 1979. It is a membership organization whose purpose is to assist and champion the efforts of local United Ways in advancing the common good. Other charitable organizations known as United Funds or Community Chests also can be members of UWP. 

UWP engages and connects local United Ways with resources that will help them address their community needs. UWP serves as the voice for 42 member United Ways across the commonwealth on state public policy issues that relate to community impact work in education, income and health. 

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