06/20/2023
Data: Annie E. Casey Foundation; Map: Tory Lysik/Axios Visuals
Ohio child care costs are among the nation's most expensive when compared against incomes, with the average single mother allocating about a third or more of her pay, per the latest report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
Why it matters: It's easier for parents to work full time when they have access to affordable, high-quality child care, reports Axios Columbus' Alissa Widman Neese.
• A lack of options is keeping workers — especially women, who typically earn less than men — out of an already tight labor market.
• Plus, early childhood programs support development for young kids.
Context: The pandemic has exacerbated the U.S. child care system's existing problems, including dwindling workers, low pay, high costs, waitlists and poor access.
By the numbers: In Ohio, $11,302 ($941 a month) was the average annual cost for center-based care for one toddler in 2022, per the report. That's 39% of a single mother's median income, or 11% for a married couple.
• Home-based care cost $8,761 ($730 a month), or 30% of a single mother's median income and 8% for a couple.
Of note: 36% of Ohio children lived in single-parent households in 2021, per Census data.
Zoom out: Just four states — Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York and Colorado — and Washington, D.C., have single mothers spending a larger percentage of their income on child care center costs.
👀 Eye-popping stats: Despite high costs for families, child care businesses operate on thin profit margins, typically less than 1%.
• Prices have risen 220% since 1990, significantly outpacing inflation.
• Yes, but: Child care workers — 94% of whom are women — make less than 98% of other U.S. professions, leading to staff turnover. Median annual pay is $28,520 ($13.71 hourly).
💭 Troy's thought bubble: Fortunately, my wife is a stay-at-home mom.
• I couldn't fathom what our budget would be like if we needed child care for our three boys, especially with school out for the summer.
What's next: The report encourages greater investment from local, state and federal governments.
What we're watching: The Ohio Senate's state budget proposal would reduce how many families would qualify for public child care support, capping income eligibility at 145% of the federal poverty line.
