Onslow County childcare task force outlines challenges and potential solutions to shortages
The Jacksonville Onslow Chamber of Commerce and One Place, the local Smart Start partnership, recently released an interim report examining the childcare shortage in Onslow County and its effects on local families and the economy. A local Community Child Care & Early Education Task Force was established in October 2025 as a partnership between the two organizations, with the goal to address childcare access with leaders across various sectors, from education and nonprofit organizations to military and business leaders.
Onslow County has 16,703 children under age 5, but only 4,930 licensed child care slots, according to a press release, which says this means there is approximately one licensed slot for every five families seeking child care. Since 2018, the number of licensed child care facilities has declined by 27.3% in Onslow County — compared to 17.3% statewide. Onslow’s early education workforce has also declined by 10.3% in the same time period. These factors have created a high demand for childcare, the release says, with a limited supply.
“Child care is infrastructure,” said Dawn Rochelle, chief executive officer of One Place, in the release. “When families can’t find care, parents can’t work, employers can’t hire, and our economy can’t grow. Partnering with the business community was a strategic choice, because solving this crisis requires everyone at the table.”
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The report identifies low wages as a major contributor to the workforce shortage. Early educators in Onslow County earn an average of $13.62 per hour, the release says, compared with $17.37 in retail and $19.84 in fast food. Staffing shortages have left some centers with unused classrooms because they do not have enough educators to operate them. The local task force estimates the shortage has an annual economic impact of between $197.7 million and $301.3 million.
The findings were informed by community surveys, discussions with parents and childcare workers, and a Child Care Economic Summit held in February. Of the 127 participants surveyed, 110 described the childcare shortage as either a major crisis or significant problem. Among childcare providers, 75% identified low, uncompetitive wages as a barrier to ensuring a stable workforce.
“Employers told us plainly that child care affects hiring, retention, attendance, and day-to-day operations,” said Laurette Leagon, president of the Jacksonville Onslow Chamber of Commerce, in the release. “This is a business issue, and the Chamber is committed to working alongside One Place to find practical solutions that strengthen our workforce and our economy.”
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The task force recommends action in four areas: expanding childcare capacity, strengthening the early education workforce, improving families’ access to care, and building stronger partnerships among businesses, government, and nonprofit organizations.
Some proposed strategies include creating an on-demand substitute pool, expanding apprenticeships, and increasing educator wages. The release says the task force will continue working with community partners to identify and implement solutions for childcare accessibility in Onslow County.
“In the months ahead, the Task Force will continue to meet and explore how to put these recommendations into practice, while studying other solutions that are working elsewhere in North Carolina,” the release says. “The shared goal is to find what works for Onslow County to improve access to affordable child care while stabilizing and growing the early childhood workforce.”