For far too long, lack of accessible childcare has been a systemic barrier to workforce participation and social mobility for women,
especially women of color, and low-income New York City families. In 2020, the pandemic exposed how critical childcare is to a thriving
economy in New York City and beyond. Women faced both disproportionate job loss and a dramatic increase in caregiving hours,
reversing decades of progress in labor force participation. Affordable, accessible childcare is essential to recovering from the pandemic and to being a resilient, equitable city. It’s time for real change, and we’re ready to make it.
Check out our op-ed in the New York Daily News: To revive NYC, invest in childcare. 

NYCEDC Research: A crisis for working women and mothers

76% of parents worry about having a family in NYC, and almost half have considered moving to afford care.

In NYC, moms working fulltime experience a wage gap of 86 cents/dollar earned by non-mothers, while dads earn $1.03/dollar earned by non-fathers.

Over 90% of childcare workers are women, mostly women of color and immigrants; 25% live in poverty and 53% qualify for childcare subsidies.

In early 2021, 519,000 people in the New York Metro area were not seeking paid work due to caring for a child at home.

Source: "A Crisis for Working Women and Mothers: Making the Case for Childcare at the Core of Economic Recovery in NYC." New York City Economic Development Corporation

The Childcare Innovation Lab

Women.nyc’s Childcare Innovation Lab works to re-frame access to childcare as a core economic development issue rather than a private family matter by:

  1. Leading research about the effect of childcare on NYC's economy and families;
  2. Working with NYC employers and fellow government agencies to catalyze public-private collaboration and innovation that can expand accessible, affordable, quality childcare solutions and support working women and families

Benefits for Business

For employers, high-quality childcare is a smart investment. It supports the workforce of today, while laying foundations for the success of the future workforce. Companies offering childcare benefits see:

PRODUCTIVITY GAINS

Employee absences decrease by up to 30% and vacancies are filled faster and with better qualified applicants.

IMPROVED RETENTION

Employee turnover is reduced by as much as 60%, significant as the cost of losing an employee can range from $10,000 to 2x the employee’s salary.

ENHANCED REPUTATION

8 in 10 parents wish their employer offered childcare benefits and 83% of millennials* say they would leave their jobs for one with more family-friendly benefits.

INCREASED DIVERSITY

Companies see increased gender diversity and more women advancing to leadership positions.

*Millennials make up over a third of the workforce, and millennial women account for 80% of births.

Are you:

Interested in participating in future programming?
A business leader interested in building public/private partnerships?
Contact us at [email protected]