HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania is grappling with a childcare staffing crisis that has left many families without access to affordable care, threatening the livelihoods of parents and guardians while straining local economies. During a House Majority Policy Committee hearing held last Friday, lawmakers and experts outlined both the extent of the issue and potential paths forward.
State Representative Justin Fleming, who represents portions of Dauphin County, underscored the vital role childcare plays, describing it as essential for both children’s development and parents’ ability to remain in the workforce. “It’s nearly impossible for parents and guardians to make a living without childcare,” Fleming stated, calling for state action to address the shortages.
The problem has reached alarming levels, with the childcare workforce shrinking by 40% from 2019 to 2023. Low wages, averaging just $15.15 per hour, have been a driving factor behind the staffing exodus. Childcare salaries fail to meet cost-of-living standards in all 67 Pennsylvania counties, leaving many centers struggling to retain or recruit staff. Testimony during the hearing revealed that workers often seek better-paying roles in other fields, including those in unskilled labor sectors.
Experts such as Jen DeBell, executive director of the Pennsylvania Association for the Education of Young Children, emphasized the growing urgency for increased investment in the workforce. DeBell highlighted that solutions such as raising wages and offsetting rising operational costs are necessary to sustain high-quality childcare services. Voters, she noted, generally support funding these workforce needs.
Additional testimony came from childcare leaders like Lisa Whitworth, director of Little Learners’ Child Development Center, and Mariel Campbell, administrator at Mikayla’s Place Child Development Academy. Both described the challenges centers face, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which further highlighted existing disparities and workforce shortages.
Despite efforts by House Democrats and the governor’s office to address the issue—including a tripling of the child and dependent tax credit—decades of inadequate legislative action have compounded the crisis. Many argue that Pennsylvania must look to other states that have implemented successful models of childcare reform.
The hearing made one point clear: without swift and comprehensive action, families will continue to struggle with a lack of affordable care, while the state’s economic stability hangs in the balance. A recording of Friday’s hearing can be found here.
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