Ohio’s Child Care Workforce Crisis and the Push for Real Solutions
Ohio is at a critical turning point in child care. Providers, business leaders, and child-advocacy organizations are sounding the alarm: without immediate policy action, child care capacity will continue to be a huge issue, families will be pushed out of the workforce, and the state’s economy will feel the consequences for years to come.
Why This Matters
Child care is not only about early learning. It is a foundational part of our economy. When parents cannot access or afford care, they cannot work. When child care centers cannot stay staffed, they are forced to reduce slots or close entirely, removing child care options from communities that already struggle to find them.
The Crisis Inside the Workforce
Despite playing one of the most essential roles in society, child care workers are among the lowest-paid professionals. In Ohio, many child care employees are parents themselves, yet they do not qualify for child care assistance, even though their wages remain modest.
This has led to a heartbreaking cycle:
- Workers cannot afford child care
- They leave the profession to care for their own children
- Providers lose staff
- Classrooms close
- Parents lose child care slots
- Families leave the workforce
The Financial Reality
Child care in Ohio is expensive:
- Nearly $13,800 per year for center-based care for one child
- More than $1,100 a month
- Roughly 40% of a single parent’s income, and over 11% of a married couple’s income
For many families, it costs as much to have a baby in care as it does to send a student to college.
That forces impossible choices, especially for single-parent households.
House Bill 484: A Targeted Solution
Lawmakers are now considering Ohio House Bill 484, which would allow child care workers to access Publicly Funded Child Care regardless of income, through a two-year pilot program beginning in 2026.
This approach has already been adopted by Michigan and Kentucky as a strategy to stabilize the child care workforce and keep care available for families.
If passed, the bill would:
- Reduce turnover among child care staff
- Keep child care classrooms open
- Preserve child care slots for families
- Support Ohio’s broader workforce and economy
Ohio already has one of the nation’s strictest income limits for child care assistance. Advocates had pushed to raise eligibility, but that expansion did not make it into the most recent state budget. Meanwhile, federal pandemic support for child care is expiring, leaving Ohio facing a significant funding gap moving forward.
Conclusion
When child care collapses, families struggle, and long-term economic stability suffers. Ohio’s business leaders recognize this. Child advocates recognize this. Parents feel this every single day. House Bill 484 represents a chance to stabilize the child care workforce, protect working families, and secure the future of Ohio’s economy.
Source of image: Krakenimages.com – stock.adobe.com
