When children have access to high-quality care and education, there are benefits to the child, the child’s family, and community as a whole. As our state grapples with developing a strong and robust workforce, we must consider how the child care needs of working parents in Connecticut are having a large impact on the state’s workforce. Due to high costs, limited availability, and uneven access to quality care, many parents do not fully participate in the Connecticut workforce. National data suggest that increasing access to high-quality early care and education is a key mechanism to strengthen today’s workforce. There is an ongoing need for substantial investment to increase availability, affordability, and access to quality early care and education for young children and their families.
This research brief describes the importance of early care and education as it relates to workforce development and retention in Connecticut. It recommends that employers implement and offer family-responsive programs and policies; invest in community early care and education programs through a public/private partnership model; and advocate for a robust, high-quality early care and education system.
