Bridging the Gap: Exploring the Intersection of Workforce Development and Child Care

Recently, the economic climate has refocused attention on how to design effective workforce development strategies to benefit low-wage and low-skill workers advance in the job market. However, one key barrier faced by this group is a lack of child care, caused by either high costs or limited availability of reasonable options. Without child care, it is more difficult for parents to invest the time and effort in improving their skills through training or education. This report examines the intersection of child care needs and workforce development efforts to spur a discussion of critical issues and solutions for these working parents.