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Miami-Dade County experiences $931.7 million in annual economic losses due to insufficient access to affordable, reliable childcare for working parents, according to a new report released by The Women’s Fund Miami-Dade (WFMD), A Powerful Business Case for Early Childhood Learning & Childcare.
The report examines how limited childcare access reduces workforce participation, strains businesses, and weakens economic growth across Florida. When parents cannot secure childcare, many are forced to reduce their work hours, turn down employment opportunities, or leave the workforce altogether, resulting in lost wages, productivity, and tax revenue.
In Miami-Dade County, the average annual cost of childcare for a single infant is $13,560 — that’s $1,130 per month, taking up 17 percent of the monthly budget. Infant care statewide costs $8,403 (181.9 percent) more per year on average than in-state tuition for a four-year public college. Across Florida, 68 percent of children live in families where all parents work, and 23 million Floridians rely on childcare to get to work. Despite this reliance, childcare costs and availability remain a major barrier for working families.
The report also highlights the economic opportunity of investing in early childhood learning and childcare. Expanding access could increase Florida’s economy by up to 0.6 percent, generating an estimated $11 billion in new economic activity. If early learning costs were capped at 7 percent of family income, consistent with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommendations, 70,453 additional parents could enter the workforce.
Private-sector data further reinforces the business case for investment. According to Child Care Aware of America, J.P. Morgan estimates a 115 percent return on investment from its childcare program, while Patagonia recovers 91 percent of its annual calculable childcare costs through improved retention and reduced turnover.
The report calls on policymakers, business leaders, and community stakeholders to treat childcare as essential economic infrastructure and to prioritize investments that support working families and strengthen the workforce.
To read A Powerful Business Case for Early Childhood Learning & Childcare, visit: https://womensfundmiami.org/data-and-research/#reports.
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