MY TURN: Idaho's child care crisis: Rising costs force health care workers out of the workforce, impacting businesses and families
Recent findings from the Idaho Department of Labor reveal that Idaho's overall workforce is significantly affected by the escalating cost and limited accessibility of child care, with a particularly strong impact on health care workers. The financial strain and lack of child care options are forcing valued health care workers to leave their jobs, subsequently hindering health care facilities' ability to recruit and retain staff and limiting the earning potential of parents in health care roles. The United Way of North Idaho is actively working to bring attention to the child care crisis to support all local families, including those essential to our health care system, and finding long-term solutions.
Brandon Duong, an economist with the Idaho Department of Labor, highlighted the stark reality facing many families. "It's no surprise that finding support to raise a kid is expensive and is becoming even more costly in today's economy," Duong stated. "That has caused parents to take a look at the books, write it out and see that child care isn't the best option."
New data from the Idaho Department of Labor reveals the gravity of the situation. There has been a staggering increase in job losses or departures due to child care needs, soaring from 5,000 in 2023 to 25,000 in 2024. Only approximately 12% of working parents in Idaho are currently utilizing day care for child care support. A significant 55% of parents lack child care support, forcing many to rely on informal arrangements or leave the workforce entirely.
UNWI emphasizes that the child care crisis extends beyond individual families, impacting the entire community. "Just even the basic facts of missing work, if you're a working parent and you don't have child care available, you miss 17% more unpaid time off from work," stated Rachel Peterson, executive director of United Way North Idaho. "Not only does that affect your ability to serve and do your job in the community, but it affects your finances as well."
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare also points out the regional disparities in child care costs across the state. Latah County bears the brunt of the financial burden, with parents reportedly spending over 10% of their income on child care expenses. Nationally, experts consider anything exceeding 7% of a family's income to create a significant barrier to accessing necessary child care.
The combination of rising costs, limited availability and the closure of child care facilities paints a concerning picture for Idaho's workforce and economy. As more parents are forced to choose between their careers and child care responsibilities, businesses face challenges in attracting and retaining talent, ultimately hindering economic growth. "So it's really an interest of our community as a whole, that we solve this problem and work towards a solution," emphasized the Idaho Department of Labor. Addressing the child care crisis requires a multi-faceted approach involving government initiatives, community support, and innovative solutions to ensure that working parents have access to affordable and reliable child care, allowing them to remain active participants in Idaho's thriving workforce.
Cyndy Donato, chief people officer at Kootenai Health, shared her perspective on the impact of this crisis within their organization. “At Kootenai Health, we’re proud to operate our own on-site day care for the children of team members. Even with this resource, demand for quality child care continues to far exceed capacity — resulting in a significant waitlist. While our workforce has largely rebounded since the pandemic, the shortage of accessible, affordable child care remains a major challenge — both for our current employees and for the staff we are hiring to join our team. This is not only a personal issue for working families — it’s a workforce and infrastructure issue that demands attention and action from individuals, businesses and local leaders alike.”
The child care crisis isn't just a family issue; it's a community one, significantly impacting essential workers like those in health care. UWNI is actively working toward long-term, community-based solutions to address this critical issue. In the interim, they are currently offering scholarships to qualifying families in North Idaho. This marks the beginning of a series exploring the increasing lack of accessible and affordable child care, its widespread effects and the sustainable solutions UWNI is advocating for Idaho families and health care workers.
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Tanis Uhlorn, RN, is a volunteer writer for United Way of North Idaho.