North Carolina Voters Across Party Lines Identify Childcare as Major Workforce and Affordability Issue
A new statewide poll conducted by the WNC Early Childhood Coalition and the First Five Years Fund reveals that 78% of North Carolina voters consider the ability to find and afford childcare a crisis or major problem. This concern transcends political affiliations, with 62% of Republicans, 78% of independents, and 90% of Democrats agreeing on the severity of the issue. Joseph O’Hern, director of coalition and campaigns for the First Five Years Fund, stated that affordability is a top concern for voters, and childcare costs significantly contribute to the ongoing affordability crisis. The poll, conducted in August with 820 voters, many from Western North Carolina, also found that half of North Carolina parents paying for childcare are prevented from saving or making financial gains due to these costs, while 34% are cutting back on other essentials. Furthermore, about one in four voters are delaying starting a family because of childcare expenses.
