‘I really don’t know where we go from here’: Analysis highlights WA child care crisis

By Chrissy Booker

A statewide research analysis published in July revealed the lack of access to child care has resulted in a $6 billion loss to Washington’s economy.

Despite state investments that kept child care businesses afloat during the pandemic, the child care crisis remains severe, according to the study by Child Care Aware of Washington.

The state affiliate of a national nonprofit commissioned the analysis by research firm ECOnorthwest in Portland. The study found challenges such as disruptions, turnover, absenteeism and lost income due to child care issues amounted to $6.9 billion in 2023 in Washington.

Genevieve Stokes, director of government relations for the nonprofit, said without a system that addresses the root causes of child care deserts, families, providers and businesses will continue to feel the impacts.

“We’re still not at a place at a federal level or a state level where we’ve really solved the child care issue at a systemic level,” Stokes said. “The burden of this is falling on families, on small businesses and on child care providers. Child care providers have rooms standing empty because they just can’t pay for staff. They want to serve more people, and it’s this tough thing.”

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