In that scenario, the gains in the job market would be driven by low-income mothers, whose full-time employment would probably increase by 18.2 percentage points. A broad expansion in child-care subsidies would increase that share to 78%, which would catapult the U.S. into ninth place in mothers’ employment among the richest nations. By increasing demand for the services, child-care subsidies would boost hourly wages for industry workers, who make an average $12.12 per hour and are disproportionately women of color. Child-care workers have been slow to return to the industry since the pandemic. The availability of higher pay in other jobs has led many of the workers to leave the industry altogether.

Source: Los Angeles Times June 14, 2022 10:53 UTC