A new online dashboard will serve to shine a light on where glaring childcare shortages exist in Mississippi.
The Children’s Foundation of Mississippi and the Mississippi Economic Council launched the platform, aiming to signal where Mississippi families and employers are being strained by a lack of resources. This new portal, developed alongside data consulting and analytics firm Elucidata LLC, exists to give business leaders, parents, and policymakers clearer insight into how childcare access affects Mississippi’s workforce. The dashboard will be updated monthly.
Officials who launched the platform estimate that Mississippi has about 1,400 licensed childcare centers and more than 170,000 children under age 5. Current childcare capacity meets the needs of roughly 67% of those children, with infant care in especially short supply.
A survey of more than 130 Mississippi business leaders found that access to childcare directly influences employee productivity. Cost was the most common reason companies do not offer on-site or nearby childcare, but 71% of respondents expressed interest in learning more about those options.
Earlier research by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation estimated that childcare challenges cost Mississippi $673 million annually, including $120 million in lost tax revenue and $553 million from employee absences and turnover.
“The chamber report also pointed out that many parents are unable to complete educational and workforce training programs due to childcare issues.” Children’s Foundation of Mississippi Executive Director Linda Southward said. “These survey findings and resultant online mapping portal can be a planning tool for parents, business, and community leaders to learn more about the landscape and availability of childcare and workforce within their county.”
Officials are hoping that spotlighting where childcare shortages exist in the Magnolia State will spur meaningful change, especially to the benefit of families.
