NORFOLK, Va. — A new state report shows child care is unaffordable for a majority of Virginians.
According to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, which does research for the Virginia General Assembly, childcare costs more than 10% of a family's average income in every region of the state.
The report found care unaffordable for 85% of families with an infant, 82% with a toddler and 74% of families with a pre-school-aged child.
The report says availability is also an issue, with 140,000 additional slots needed in Virginia.
U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine says this problem adds to the workforce shortage.
“There are probably more than a million workers in this country who are sidelined because they can't find high-quality affordable childcare,” Kaine said. “They want to work, they have skills, they'd be great employees, they have employers that are begging to hire them. But they can't find high-quality affordable childcare.”
As for solutions, the report says the state should invest in more programs to help alleviate childcare staffing shortages and help low-income families.