Rising childcare prices could harm the economy
Fox19 reports parents are considering leaving the workforce due to increased costs
Childcare costs have spiked in recent years, forcing parents to make tough decisions that could negatively affect the economy, Fox19 reported.
David Brasington, PhD, James C. and Caroline Kautz Chair in Political Economy and professor of economics
The childcare industry, including both centers and at-home care, hasn’t recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic. With a decreased supply of childcare providers, prices have significantly increased.
David Brasington, PhD, the James C. and Caroline Kautz Chair in Political Economy and economics professor in the University of Cincinnati's Carl H. Lindner College of Business, has experienced this firsthand.
“I used to pay $10 an hour for help with my kids, and then it was $12 ... and then it was $15, and the last summer, I tried to get care for my own kids, babysitters wanted $23 an hour,” Brasington said.
With skyrocketing costs, some families are debating whether they should have fewer kids or if a parent should leave the workforce and become a stay-at-home parent.
“And that’s going to hurt businesses’ ability to attract workers,” Brasington said. “It hurts parents‘ ability to earn wages, and it affects the kids’ experiences. There’s a lot of benefit to interaction between parents and kids, but I think there’s also something kids learn from being in a childcare setting.”
Featured image at top: A woman and a group of toddlers sit on a couch. Photo/krakenimages via Unsplash
Impact Lives Here
The University of Cincinnati is leading public urban universities into a new era of innovation and impact. Our faculty, staff and students are saving lives, changing outcomes and bending the future in our city's direction. Next Lives Here.
Related Stories
Bidirectional link between oral, kidney health calls for patient education, access
August 4, 2026
Despite growing awareness of the connection between oral health and chronic health conditions, patient awareness and access to dental care remain limited, according to University of Cincinnati experts who recently spoke with Healio | Nephrology News & Issues.
UC Blue Ash grad goes from commencement to the corporate world
August 4, 2026
Fairouz Maayah is a UC Blue Ash College alumna who is using her education, skills, and hands-on experience to launch her career with Ernst & Young, one of the world’s largest professional services firms, where she works with businesses from around the globe.
The subtle changes in hearing you should never ignore
August 4, 2026
It’s easy to dismiss changes in hearing as minor. But as The Washington Post recently reported, these symptoms could also signal a medical emergency that many people don’t recognize — known as sudden sensorineural hearing loss, a rapid decline in hearing that occurs suddenly or over a few days.