The Parental Work Disruption Index

Parental Work Disruption Index

The Parental Work Disruption Index was developed by senior economists at KPMG, one of the largest global accounting and consulting firms. Using Bureau of Labor Statistics datasets, including previously unpublished data by gender and age, KPMG has developed a Parental Work Disruption Index that shows the impact of inadequate childcare options on workers in the US. Below are their latest findings for February 2025:

Last week’s jobs report updates KPMG’s Parental Work Disruption Index, which shows the impact of challenges on workers in the US.

• The Parental Work Disruption Index ticked up to 121.2 in February from 120.8 in January (see chart below). This means inadequate childcare options impact 21% more workers compared to the pre-pandemic baseline. The uptick this month reverses the downward trend starting in October 2024.
• In February, 1.5 million workers either worked part-time or missed work entirely due to childcare problems. 86% of these workers were women.
• Those classified as “voluntary” part-time workers due to childcare problems – note that there is often little choice due to the lack of access to quality and affordable childcare – surged in February. This included more than half a million women aged 35-44. That is the highest level ever for that age group, showing how the childcare crisis disproportionately affects women in their prime working years.
• 116,000 workers who usually work full-time had to cut their hours because of childcare problems. For the second month in a row, more than half were men. This hits productivity and contributes to coworker burnout; both are part of the hidden but ongoing cost of the childcare crisis for employers and the US economy.

Source: https://kpmg.com/us/en/articles/2024/september-2024-the-parental-work-disruption-index.html

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