State committee wrestles with Montana’s childcare capabilities, low wages and staff retention
Montana’s Economic Affairs Interim Committee wants to take a deeper look during the next year into ways to boost wages for childcare workers, and continue to find funding sources as federal pandemic programs that have helped keep childcare providers afloat during the past three years expire.
Committee members received a multi-hour update on childcare in Montana and its impacts on the workforce from both state officials and economists at a meeting Tuesday, as well as from people who run organizations trying to make childcare more affordable and accessible so more parents can work and not worry about putting too much of their paychecks toward care for their kids.
After the presentations, lawmakers acknowledged there was significant work to do on several facets of the workforce and childcare issues, as childcare is now costing Montanans, on average, about 28% of their median household income, and more than it costs to send a student to Montana State University each year. Cost-of-living and educational changes between urban and rural Montana have also compounded disparities and issues, the committee was told.
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