Utah
Working families in Utah need accessible, affordable, quality child care and early learning opportunities for their children.
Currently, federal and state early learning programs reach thousands of young children and their families in Utah. But too many working families in Utah are missing out. As a direct result of child care issues, the Utah economy loses millions of dollars each year in the form of lost earnings, productivity, and revenue.
There are 290K children ages 5 and under in Utah – 53% of these children have all available parents in the workforce.
The typical annual cost of child care for an infant in Utah is around $11,000.
The Child Care and Development Block Grant only reaches 13% of eligible families in Utah. (This federal program helps low-income parents afford child care.)
On average, child care providers in Utah earn just $30,390 a year; this can make it a challenge to recruit and retain this workforce, leading to supply issues.
Utah’s economy loses $1.2B annually due to child care challenges.
Utah: In The Headlines
Utah families face high infant care costs even if they pay less than other states
KJZZ | oCTOBER 29, 2024
Daycare remains a significant monthly expense, often exceeding costs for food, transportation or medical care.
Utahns are concerned about child care and the gender pay gap, according to survey
Utah Public Radio | January 13, 2025
Madsen said a surprising result emerged from the section on child care. She emphasized that the majority of participants at least “somewhat agree” the government should step in and help.
Voices: Investing in child care and workplace flexibility would strengthen Utah’s workforce
The Salt Lake Tribune | October 21, 2024
Child care is not merely a personal family matter, but a crucial community and business issue influencing how, when and, for many, why we work.
Utah Resources & News
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