The U.S. has been slower and less effective than many other countries in actively providing paid public and private sector policies supporting employees’ child and elder care needs. Eighty-three percent of the U.S. workforce lacks access to paid family leave to care for a new baby or a sick family member. The economic impact of this trend is apparent: More than half of prime workforce age women with children under eighteen list child care barriers as the reason for lack of labor market participation.
A transforming workforce and growing competitive pressures in hiring and retaining skilled labor make now the perfect time to act — and some companies have advanced and advocated for strong, forward-thinking benefit programs. Still, the lack of a comprehensive national policy endangers not only the economy, but also society more broadly.