--- title: "Essential but Challenging: Child Care Access and Affordability" description: "Essential but Challenging: Child Care Access and Affordability" image: https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/hubfs/CC%20Fact%20Sheet%20-%20MO.png --- [![Child Care Aware of Missouri Logo](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Child%20Care%20Aware%20Logo%20(1).png?width=666&height=414&name=Child%20Care%20Aware%20Logo%20(1).png "Child Care Aware of Missouri Logo")](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication) Open main menu Close main menu [Community Data](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/tag/community-data) # Essential but Challenging: Child Care Access and Affordability [Child Care Aware® of Missouri](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/author/child-care-aware-of-missouri) [Share this blog post via Email](mailto:?subject=%3Cspan+id%3D%22hs_cos_wrapper_name%22+class%3D%22hs_cos_wrapper+hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field+hs_cos_wrapper_type_text%22+style%3D%22%22+data-hs-cos-general-type%3D%22meta_field%22+data-hs-cos-type%3D%22text%22+%3EEssential+but+Challenging%3A+Child+Care+Access+and+Affordability%3C%2Fspan%3E&body=I+found+this+interesting+blog+post%3A+https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/cd-essential-but-challenging-child-care-access-and-affordability) [Share this blog post on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/cd-essential-but-challenging-child-care-access-and-affordability) [Share this blog post on LinkedIn](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/partner-publication/cd-essential-but-challenging-child-care-access-and-affordability) ![](https://partnerpublication.mochildcareaware.org/hubfs/CC%20Fact%20Sheet%20-%20MO.png) Excerpt from *On the Economy Blog* of the **Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis** **Child Care: Critical to the Economy but Difficult to Access and Afford** April 13, 2023 By  [Ana Hernández Kent](https://www.stlouisfed.org/on-the-economy/2023/apr/child-care-critical-economy-difficult-access-afford#authorbox) **, ** [Xiaohan Zhang](https://www.stlouisfed.org/on-the-economy/2023/apr/child-care-critical-economy-difficult-access-afford#authorbox) In the U.S., the average annual cost of child care was an estimated [$10,900 per child per year](https://www.stlouisfed.org/community-development/child-care-economic-impact) in 2021. This is 15% of median household income—more than double the 7% the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services considers affordable. Starting in 2022, inflation has further strained the sector and parents’ ability to pay.  For example, much of the increased operational costs (e.g., food, rent, utilities) for providers have been passed on to parents in the form of tuition increases, making it more difficult for them to afford care. At the same time, providers need to improve and maintain quality, and attract and retain credentialed workers by offering competitive wages and benefits, which is not always possible. These burdens contribute to a vicious cycle of unaffordability, which in turn affects access. In addition to affordability, availability is also quite problematic. About [half of Americans live in child care deserts](https://www.americanprogress.org/article/americas-child-care-deserts-2018/), which are areas with too few licensed slots relative to the number of children. These low-access areas are more likely to be rural and low-income neighborhoods.  In addition, there are “time deserts”; licensed child care is [relatively nonexistent during nontraditional hours (PDF)](https://www.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/documents/opre/factsheet_nonstandard_hours_provision_of_ece_toopre_041715_508.pdf), such as evenings and weekends. In these areas, parents working nontraditional or unstable work hours are likely to lack access to child care regardless of geography, affordability or quality. Thus, nonstandard work schedules further complicate child care access. *Source: Child Care: Critical to the Economy but Difficult to Access and Afford*. (n.d.). Www.stlouisfed.org. [https://www.stlouisfed.org/on-the-economy/2023/apr/child-care-critical-economy-difficult-access-afford](https://www.stlouisfed.org/on-the-economy/2023/apr/child-care-critical-economy-difficult-access-afford) ---   Child Care Aware® of Missouri – Data & Analysis Services Our comprehensive data analytic services include child care, demographic, economic, and social data to help your business grow. We offer customized data reports, analysis, and geographic mapping to interpret and visualize data. Contact us today. 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