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Women’s History Month & the early childcare workforce: Supporting the women who support American’s children
In 1987, Congress declared March to be “Women’s History Month.” Throughout the month, Americans celebrate the current and historical contributions of women—contributions that, like the mostly-female early childhood workforce, are often overlooked, undervalued, or forgotten by society. Early care and education in the United States is provided by women, with women of Color disproportionately represented in the workforce. These women are the backbone of our economy, yet they are among the lowest earners. Despite 76% holding a field-specific professional credential, the median wage for licensed caregivers is $11.65 per hour: a rate that falls below the poverty level for a family of four.
Because of poor working conditions and poverty-level wages, childcare providers are leaving the field permanently. Directors and parents report empty, darkened classrooms, once full of laughter and learning, now closed due to staffing shortages. A report from the Center for American Progress estimates that between February 2020 and September 2022, the workforce lost 88,000 jobs, leaving approximately 460,000 families without care.
For 36 years, Women’s History Month has celebrated women’s contributions to American society. To solve the childcare crisis, Americans will need to do more than issue proclamations, and the efforts we list below must persist well beyond March:
1. We must invest in the women that care for America’s children—an investment that, economists and educators agree, will have significant financial and social returns.
2. Professional empowerment efforts must ensure that programs intended to professionalize the workforce don’t disenfranchise the field.
3. Keep the conversation going, to bring about policy change.
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