Learn Where The Childcare Crisis Is Hitting Some States Worse Than Others
With the cost of living soaring, a childcare crisis is gripping the nation, and some states that have it far worse than others include Massachusetts, California, Washington, Maryland, New York, and New Jersey.
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In today’s world, people seem unable to catch a break financially. Everyone is bombarded by news of the Ukrainian v Russia war, the United Kingdom’s Brexit, hyperinflation, store closures, and other financial woes. The cost of just having the basic necessities is skyrocketing this winter. There are rumors that some low-income families will have to choose between food and heat. This a shocking tale to hear in a first-world country in 2022.
Since the pandemic, world markets have yet to settle, causing damage to nearly every industry. Due to the amount of money the global governments have to people since 2022, every country’s national debt has increased massively, causing Wall Street to become unstable. This instability has trickled down to every sector with massive price increases in energy, food, and services.
Another essential cost that is on the increase is childcare, causing a childcare crisis. In today’s society, both parents are expected to work to cover living costs, unlike fifty years ago when the woman’s main job was as a mother and homemaker. Historically minimum wage was the minimum amount needed for a family to live with one adult working. Something that has become unrealistic now. Now both parents are expected to do it all, but at what cost?
Some couples are paying up to $1,200 a month for one child to be in childcare while both parents work; that is the price of someone’s mortgage. So some families in America are essentially paying for two mortgages on top of the rising cost of living. This arrangement does not seem like a system working for everyday people.
While most children thrive in a social environment from a young age, the added cost of childcare to families is crippling. Many families state that they will have to tighten their belts this year, but how can they when their basic expenses are this high? This is where families will start to pick and choose which basic necessities to have as their weekly or monthly money does not cover everything they need.
Not only are childcare prices increasing, but the industry is also struggling to bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic. Comparing the number of people employed in the childcare sector pre-pandemic, it is down 9.7%. This number is going to decrease futher when federal funding for childcare is ceased. During the pandemic, the childcare sector received a subsidiary of over %50 million, which is due to run out.
The childcare crisis is increasing so drastically that normal daycare services are out of reach for some parents which is a significant problem for the American economy. Like everything, the less available to the masses, the more need there is and the more expensive it will be.
With several states acknowledging the childcare issues and planning to reduce their overall cost, long-term help may be on the way, but how soon. According to Fortune, some of the most costly states for childcare include Massachusetts, California, Washington, Maryland, New York, and New Jersey.
Running a household in 2022 is not without its stresses. Paying so much for childcare that it represents a monthly mortgage payment just so both parents can go to work to pay for the other necessities sounds like a very broken system. Something has to be done to ensure people are not crippled by bills and get into financial trouble through no fault of their own. Times are tough for the everyday family, and the government needs to recognize this.
