The Economic Impact of America’s Child Care Gap

In 2020, BPC provided a long overdue answer to a critical question: “How much additional child care does the country need?” We calculated that one in three children with all parents in the labor force lack to child care in their community—this is America’s child care gap.

Building off that analysis, BPC estimated the economic burden of America’s child care gaps on households, businesses, and tax revenues in 35 states including Washington, D.C. Our 2021 report, The Economic Impact of America’s Child Care Gap, monetizes the impact of the gap on families, businesses, and tax payers. The report and interactive map, with findings by state, congressional district, and county, offers a starting point to calculate the return on investment of building our country’s child care supply and closing the country’s child care gap.