Childcare gaps fuel burnout for working parents, survey finds

• Key Insight: Learn how childcare access is becoming a strategic workforce stability lever for employers.  
• What's at Stake: Productivity, retention, and labor costs could be materially affected across industries.  
• Forward Look: Expect growing employer-provided childcare benefits to become a talent retention differentiator.
  Source: Bullets generated by AI with editorial review

A lack of access to reliable childcare is fueling a burnout crisis among working parents, according to a new national survey. 

The KinderCare Confidence Index found that working parents spend more than one-third of every month in complete burnout, while 60% say growing parenting pressures are hurting their mental health. 

One of the major contributors to parent stress and burnout is the challenge of finding consistent, high-quality childcare. Among the more than 2,500 parents surveyed, 81% said that they are constantly thinking about childcare gaps. The challenge is even greater for parents of children under 5, who are more likely to struggle to find reliable child care because younger children require more hands-on attention than school-age kids. 

The majority of parents feel they're on their own, with 76% expressing extreme frustration over the lack of childcare support available to parents in the U.S. 

"Working parents are managing significant professional and caregiving responsibilities simultaneously, and reliable child care is often the foundation that makes everything else work," said Dan Figurski, president of KinderCare for Employers and Champions.

KinderCare partners with more than 700 employers nationwide to offer childcare benefits, including on-site and near-site care, as well as tuition assistance for working parents.

The economic toll of childcare disruptions

In addition to their impact on mental health, childcare gaps can take a financial toll on parents. Ninety percent of parents report a workforce disruption due to childcare challenges, according to a recent study by Moms First, a national nonprofit that advocates for affordable child care and paid family leave.

These disruptions cost U.S. businesses up to $70 billion in lost productivity, turnover and absenteeism every year.

"Childcare has a direct economic impact both on employers and on society," Figurski said. "When a parent misses work because of a lack of childcare, the impact goes beyond the family to their entire work team, and that has an impact on an organization's productivity. That's why childcare benefits are such a vital aspect of employee retention and engagement. When employers support parents, everyone benefits." 

The Kindercare study also looked at what happens to parents when they have access to high-quality childcare, and they found that it improves both parents' mental health and workforce stability.

Read more: Benefits to help working parents survive the summer

Nearly all (88%) of parents agreed that quality childcare gives them more confidence as a parent. A majority of respondents (86%) said high-quality child care is a basic need, not a luxury, and many are turning to their employers for support. 

The high cost of care

Another key concern for parents is the cost of childcare, which remains a significant strain on many family budgets.

According to the federal National Database of Childcare Prices, the median annual cost of full-day care for one child in 2022 ranged from $6,552 to $15,600. That same year, U.S. families spent between 8.9% and 16% of median household income on full-time care for one child. 

Read more: Child care surpasses retirement as top work perk

"Affordability remains one of the biggest challenges facing working families today," Figurski said.  "What has changed is the growing recognition that child care is a necessity, not a discretionary expense."

KinderCare's study also found that childcare support can play a major role in employee retention. Seventy-nine percent of parents said they would be more loyal to their employer if they received stronger support as a parent, while more than one-quarter said they have considered quitting or have left a job because of child care challenges. 

"When an organization offers child care benefits, they demonstrate that the employer understands the needs of today's workforce and is committed to helping employees succeed both professionally and personally," Figurski said. As a result, childcare benefits can strengthen recruitment, retention and overall employee engagement.