Childcare is Workforce Infrastructure: The Connection Between Childcare and Workforce Stability
September 2, 2026
Original coverage in The Voice of the Greater Rockford Business Community (pages 10-11).
By Livia Bane, Birth to Five Illinois
When business leaders think about workforce challenges, they often focus on recruitment, retention, and productivity. Yet one of the most significant barriers to workforce participation exists outside the workplace: access to affordable, reliable child care.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), mothers and fathers make up a significant proportion of the labor force, with participation rates of 73.9% and 93.7%, respectively (BLS, April 2026).
For many working parents and caregivers, childcare is what makes employment possible. When care is unavailable, unaffordable, or inconsistent, families are forced to make difficult decisions that directly impact employers via increased absenteeism, higher turnover, staffing shortages, and reduced productivity for employers.
Across industries, employers continue to report difficulties filling positions and retaining talent. At the same time, many communities face shortages of childcare providers and early learning programs, creating a layered challenge for families, businesses, and the local economy. In Boone and Winnebago Counties alone, there are an estimated 55,615 children aged 12 and younger who require full-time care or before- and after-school supervision (IECAM).
In a competitive labor market, employers cannot afford to overlook the role childcare plays in workforce stability. Access to quality childcare has become as essential to economic success as transportation, housing, and broadband infrastructure. Without it, businesses struggle to attract and retain the workers they need to grow and thrive.
Forward-thinking employers are beginning to recognize this connection. Some are exploring flexible scheduling options, childcare partnerships, or advocacy efforts aimed at strengthening local childcare systems. While no single business can solve the challenge alone, employers have an important voice in the conversation.
One example of employer leadership can be found in La Crosse, Wisconsin (story by Alex Loroff, WEAU News, Eau Claire, Wisconsin). To address the childcare needs of its nearly 3,000 employees, Kwik Trip prioritized the establishment of a centralized childcare facility on its campus—providing essential childcare to Kwik Trip employees for years to come.
“One of the things we have heard for many years from all of our co-workers is the stress and hassle of trying to find childcare. We are always trying to find innovative ways to take care of our employees, and we thought this would be a great initiative,” said Kwik Trip Public Relations Director John McHugh.
The message is clear: Businesses need workers, workers need childcare, and communities need both to thrive. When parents have dependable care, they are more likely to maintain employment, pursue career advancement opportunities, and contribute fully to their organizations.
In Boone and Winnebago Counties, Birth to Five Illinois is working with families, providers, and community leaders to address critical early childhood gaps in the region, including advocating for an early childhood apprenticeship program and partnering with local stakeholders to identify innovative solutions that support families and employers. To learn more, visit www.birthtofiveil.com/region4.