Families and Businesses in Delaware Share a Common Challenge: Child Care.

It's long been an issue for working parents who struggle with finding access to the affordable and quality child care that enables them to participate in the workforce.So, let me share some data with you.Families in Delaware pay an average of 20 percent of their median household income on one child's care per year. 1 And yet, one study estimates that 25% of people in Delaware live in a child care desert.The total licensed capacity across Delaware-the number of children providers have space for-is 53,640.This falls short of the estimated number of children aged zero to nine in Delaware, 109,075. 2 You've heard the phrase "the numbers don't lie."Delaware's child care issues cannot be overlooked.The supply cannot meet the demand.The numbers don't work.The struggle for employees to find child care is a top concern in the business community.According to a national U.S. Chamber Foundation study, absences and employee turnover cost employers anywhere from $400 million to $3 billion a year. 3More and more employers are recognizing child care is not just a social issue, it's a workforce barrier.