North Carolina voters identify childcare as a major affordability and workforce challenge

A statewide poll recently found that North Carolina voters across political parties view childcare as both an affordability issue for families and a workforce issue for the state. Conducted by WNC Early Childhood Coalition and First Five Years Fund, the poll also found broad support for state and federal investment in childcare.

Finding and affording quality childcare is a significant concern for families, results show. Seventy-eight percent of voters said access to affordable, quality childcare is either “a crisis or a major problem.” That concern was shared across the political spectrum, with 62% of Republicans, 78% of Independents, and 90% of Democrats in agreement. 

The poll also highlights the ways childcare costs can affect financial preparedness and family planning. Half of parents who pay for childcare said the cost prevents them from saving or getting ahead financially, while 34% said they have cut back on household necessities. Nearly one-quarter of respondents said they have delayed starting or expanding their family due to rising costs. 

Voters also see childcare as closely connected to the workforce and North Carolina’s economy. Seventy-seven percent agreed that increasing access to high-quality childcare would strengthen the state’s workforce and economy, rising to 83% in western North Carolina. Regarding disaster recovery, 63% agreed that childcare “should be a high priority for funding and support in recovery responses by local, state, and federal governments.”

More than one-third of respondents (35%) said they or someone they know would consider entering the workforce if quality childcare was available. 

“North Carolina families are feeling the strain of high child care costs,” Sarah Rittling, executive director of First Five Years Fund, said in an email statement to EdNC. “Nearly 8 in 10 voters say child care costs are part of the broader affordability crisis facing this country, and half of parents paying for care say it’s keeping them from getting ahead financially. This is the reality for families across North Carolina, and it’s time for lawmakers to act.” 

This sentiment was echoed amongst North Carolina’s voters, according to poll results. Seventy percent of voters said federal funding for childcare and early learning programs for low-income working families is a good use of taxpayer dollars. At the state level, 72% supported financial assistance for low-income families to help them afford childcare, while 62% supported the state paying providers enough to cover the actual cost of providing care. 

Along with federal and state investment, voter responses also highlighted the importance of bipartisan action on childcare. More than half of respondents (54%) said members of Congress should “do whatever it takes to pass child child care legislation, even if it means compromising with the other party.”

The poll found that North Carolinians also support Head Start, a federally funded program that supports “children’s growth from birth to age 5 through services centered around early learning and development, health, and family well-being.” Seventy-four percent of North Carolina voters support the program, and 64% oppose eliminating funding for Head Start.

In an emailed statement, North Carolina Lt. Gov. Rachel Hunt voiced a commitment to tackling childcare affordability head-on.

“I’m encouraged that Democrats and Republicans alike agree that we need to do more to support working families,” Hunt said. “As a mom, I know firsthand how challenging it can be to find affordable, quality child care. I’ll continue to work with legislators to find real solutions to make child care more accessible and affordable for North Carolina families.”

You can read more on the poll results here.