Child Care and the Labor Market Recovery: Defining the Challenge and Exploring Solutions

Parents who work outside the home have always faced challenges finding high-quality, affordable child care that meets their needs. But the COVID-19 pandemic has had devastating consequences for the child care industry and parents’ attachment to the labor force. WorkRise, a research-to-action network on jobs, workers, and mobility hosted by the Urban Institute, held a webinar on July 12, 2022, which covered the following questions: What are the long-term implications of child care challenges for workers, families, and the economy? How have these challenges exacerbated labor market inequalities and barriers to upward mobility? What solutions are needed for families and the economy to thrive, and what role should public policy, employer practices, and advocacy play in providing them?