How Child Care Impacts Louisiana’s Workforce Productivity and the State Economy

Across the United States, Early Care and Education (ECE) is gaining increased attention. Numerous studies point to the academic and social benefits of ECE for young children, and several studies point to the long-term returns on investment for the community in terms of lower incarceration rates and higher high school graduation rates. Although a wealth of research has focused on benefits for young children and local communities, less attention has been given to the benefits of quality ECE for employers and working parents. To date, we have been unable to locate Louisiana-based studies of how child care instability affects the state’s workforce productivity. This study attempts to address this gap.