The North Carolina Task Force on Child Care and Early Education has released its interim report that outlines the growing gap between childcare supply and demand in the state. Childcare breakdowns cost North Carolina billions of dollars in lost economic activity each year.
According to the task force’s report, licensed programs for infants and toddlers only have capacity to serve 18.7% of children in that age group. Workforce shortages prevent many providers from serving at licensed capacity, further limiting availability. The report also cites economic losses tied to these challenges, including an estimated $13.3 billion in forgone economic output in 2023 alone due to parents leaving or being unable to enter the workforce. The Task Force offers six preliminary recommendations focused on workforce, funding, and public-private solutions to improve access and support for early childhood education statewide.
The Interim Report can be found here
The Untapped Potential in NC Report Can be found here
Information on Triangle East Prospers, the Chamber's initiative to address workforce barriers, like access to childcare can be found here.
