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The lack of a well-functioning childcare system results in parents having to stay home and look after their children, potentially putting a strain on the economy.
AUSTIN, Texas – Childcare providers play a key role in supporting other major industries. When parents are working, children are safe in the care of qualified professionals.
However, the pandemic changed that and now the childcare industry is at risk.
Isabel Huerta, Executive Director at Sammy’s House, said they cannot run the business like they used to because they are so short on staff.
“We only serve 50% of our enrollment,” she said.
You have reduced school enrollment and turned away parents and children.
“Oh my god, our waiting list is huge right now,” added Huerta.
She attributes this to the lack of staff. While Huerta tries to get things going again, people don’t move.
“If we ever had a job, we would have 50 or 60 applicants,” said Huerta. “Right now we can set up interviews for any of our positions and nobody shows up for interviews.”
Texas Association for the Education of Young Children executive director Cody Summerville said the main reason for the shortage is low wages.
“The hourly wage for an educator is between $ 10 and $ 11 an hour,” said Summerville.
Huerta said it was tough to compete with other companies that offer almost double their capabilities.
This puts even more strain on the industry, and as more and more people leave the industry, fewer and fewer centers can accept children.
“If families don’t have a safe and caring environment to leave their child in, they can’t go to work,” added Summerville.
This means that working parents cannot return to work. They have to stay home to be with their children.
“The unfortunate thing is that childcare is the backbone of our economy, and without a highly functional childcare system, it weighs on the entire economy across all industries,” said Summerville.
Huerta said that at some point she would have to raise the prices because the rent was high. She doesn’t want to, but there is no other way to keep the business going.
“How on earth could you ever afford $ 2,000 a month in childcare if it was a single mother with three children?” said Huerta.
Now all she can do is wait and hope that the employees will show up. She fears families will leave the city if childcare becomes too expensive, which will eventually lead to the closure of her business.
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