When we talk about what keeps Missouri’s economy moving, we often talk about roads, infrastructure, businesses, technology, and a strong workforce. One critical piece of that infrastructure is too often overlooked: child care.
Child care is not simply a service families need. It supports the workforce and is an essential part of Missouri’s economic infrastructure. When parents have access to reliable, affordable, quality child care, they can go to work, stay in the workforce, and contribute to the businesses and communities that drive our economy. When child care is unavailable or unaffordable, the effects reach far beyond individual families.
A 2025 analysis by the University of Missouri Extension (https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/dm1302?utm_source=chatgpt.com) estimates that child care access challenges cost Missouri businesses approximately $951 million each year through employee absenteeism and turnover. When lost state and local tax revenue is included, the total economic impact exceeds $1.14 billion annually. That means child care is not just a family issue. It is a business issue. A workforce issue. And an economic development issue.
The Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis similarly identifies child care as a key support for the workforce. In Missouri, approximately 508,000 adults have young children, making access to child care directly relevant to a significant portion of the state’s working-age population.
Yet the people providing this essential service are often overlooked, too. Child care programs are businesses. Child care educators are workers. And child care providers are helping sustain the workforce that allows other industries to operate every day.
The workforce behind Missouri's workforce deserves recognition and investment.
When a child care program closes a classroom because it cannot hire or retain an educator, a parent may have to reduce hours, miss work, or leave a job. When a community lacks enough child care spaces, businesses have a smaller pool of available workers. When child care programs struggle to remain financially viable, communities lose an important piece of the infrastructure that supports working families.
The solution requires us to change how we think about child care. Instead of viewing child care primarily as a private expense for families, we should recognize it as an investment in workforce participation, business stability, and economic growth. Strong child care supports strong families—and strong families support strong communities and a strong economy.
At Child Care Aware® of Missouri, we believe it is time for child care to be part of every conversation about Missouri’s workforce and economic future.
Child care doesn't just support the workforce. Child care makes the workforce possible.
To learn more, visit https://mochildcareaware.org/childcareworks/.
Explore our other Child Care Aware® of Missouri resources:
Child Care Keeps Missouri Working℠
Child Care Health and Wellness
Community Data
Join Our Team
Leadership Development Opportunities
Missouri Office of Childhood Updates
Scholarships for Educators
Show Me Child Care Resources
Support Child Care Aware® of Missouri
Resources to Build Your Business
Training and Technical Assistance
Visit https://mochildcareaware.org/ to learn more.