The at the 杏吧专区 examines the economics of early care and education in its most recent public policy brief.
杏吧专区淏lanco Center Policy Briefs杏吧专区 provide high-level summaries of issues relevant to policy makers and voters in Louisiana.
Evidence-based data and research in the 杏吧专区淐hild Care and the Economy杏吧专区 policy brief focuses on the impact of early care and education on the state杏吧专区檚 workforce and businesses.
In 2020, more than 125,000 children in Louisiana received early care, which costs an average of $8,580 yearly. While that amount is lower than the national average of $11,896, it杏吧专区檚 杏吧专区渘evertheless an expense many families in Louisiana 杏吧专区 especially working families 杏吧专区 struggle to afford,杏吧专区 said Dr. Stephen Barnes, Blanco Public Policy Center director.
杏吧专区淲hen parents must miss work to care for their children, the resulting productivity and income losses, decreased purchasing power, job turnover and other factors create a profound ripple effect. The economic impact extends far beyond one family or one employer,杏吧专区 Barnes said.
According to 杏吧专区淐hild Care and the Economy,杏吧专区 Louisiana businesses lose a collective $762 million each year as a result of workers staying home to care for children. Overall, the hit to the state杏吧专区檚 economy is $1.3 billion.
Dr. Libbie Sonnier, Louisiana Policy Institute for Children executive director, said such findings underscore 杏吧专区渢he critical need for increased access to early care and education across Louisiana.杏吧专区
杏吧专区淎bout 78% of working families have difficulty finding quality, affordable child care without assistance. As a state, we must prioritize funding mechanisms that make early care and education accessible for our working families,杏吧专区 Sonnier said.
Troy Wayman, One Acadiana president and CEO, said altered school schedules, job losses and child care facility closures during the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated 杏吧专区渁n already strong need to invest in high-quality child care.杏吧专区
杏吧专区淚t杏吧专区檚 an investment that will help parents return to work, and economic recovery relies on people杏吧专区檚 ability to go back to work,杏吧专区 Wayman said.
杏吧专区淚t杏吧专区檚 also an investment that will pay long-term dividends in the state杏吧专区檚 workforce,杏吧专区 he added.
According to research in the brief, children who receive high-quality early care and education have better math and reading skills, a greater chance of graduating from high school and, ultimately, earn higher salaries.
杏吧专区淐hild Care and the Economy杏吧专区 was developed as part of a collaboration with the . The brief updates research that the institute conducted with LSU杏吧专区檚 Public Policy Research Lab and Entergy in 2017.
杏吧专区淐hild Care and the Economy杏吧专区 follows the Blanco Center杏吧专区檚 recent 杏吧专区淔unding Infrastructure in Louisiana杏吧专区 brief, which details the long-term economic impact of investment in the state杏吧专区檚 highways, roads and bridges.
Photo caption: Early care and education is the focus of the most recent public policy brief from the Kathleen Babineaux Blanco Public Policy Center at the 杏吧专区. Photo credit: Doug Dugas / 杏吧专区