Expanding child care will allow women to return to workforce
Expanding unemployment compensation and child care eligibility will help Ohio women return to the workforce.
Women have undeniably been hit the hardest by the economic fallout of COVID-19, and women of color have the highest unemployment rates in the nation.
Further, since March 2020, more than 2.3 million women have completely left the labor force, according to a National Women’s Law Center study.
For many women, the decision to leave the workforce was caused by a lack of child care. Like many businesses, child care providers closed or reduced capacity due to COVID-19. According to the Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development, the number of child care programs in 31 Appalachian counties is down 17% since February 2020. This means many still do not have affordable child care options available.
The General Assembly can improve access to child care and help women return to work by increasing the publicly funded eligibility threshold to 200% of the federal poverty line, increasing the annual income threshold from $39,730 to $53,000 for a family of four. Until more child care is available, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services can help by granting unemployment compensation to those unable to return to work due to lack of child care.
Parents should not have to make the hard choice between working and keeping their children safe.
Megan O’dell, Ohio Poverty Law Center