ST. LOUIS - While the childcare industry in Missouri has benefited from COVID Relief support and other sources of funding, gaps in the workforce are still making it hard for some families to find care for their children.
Casey Hanson, Director of Outreach and Engagement for Kids Win Missouri tells KMOX's Total Information AM, "During COVID when a lot of facilities were forced to shut down, a lot of folks that worked in the workforce left. Some that were towards the end of their career, maybe retired, others found other jobs either working from home or working, somewhere even like a Starbucks or a Target that was just able to pay much higher wage, offer more benefits."
Hanson says despite significant investment by the state to help with recruitment and retention, the issue remains.
"We need more money into the system so that we're able to consistently and sustainably pay that workforce higher wages, offer them benefits, and really attract them into the profession."
Gaps in the workforce remain a problem in urban areas like St. Louis, and in rural areas, Hanson says there's also the issue of limited facilities available to families -- often called "childcare deserts."
She says one thing that will help moving forward is an $82 million dollar investment by state lawmakers to create Pre-K programs in public schools and community-based childcare centers.
Hanson points to studies that show lack of access to childcare is hampering economic growth in the state.
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