Child Care 'Crisis' Slows US Economy
2021-11-01
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1Because of the COVID-19 health crisis, many American parents are having a difficult time balancing the needs of their children and work responsibilities.
2That is because many childcare centers in the United States have closed.
3The ones that remain open have limited spaces for additional children.
4Media reports say the problem is "a national crisis."
5The Associated Press (AP) notes that President Joe Biden is trying to include a "burst" of spending on children in the $1.9 trillion spending bill being considered by the U.S. Congress.
6The Biden administration has said it does not want parents to spend more than seven percent of their income on childcare costs.
7The administration also wants pre-school for very young children to be available to every family.
8Betsey Stevenson is an economist at the University of Michigan.
9She said a change in the availability of childcare will make a difference in the U.S. economy for many years.
10She said it will do this by "influencing who returns to work, what types of jobs parents take and the career path they are able to follow."
11One of those parents is Bryan Kang of Los Angeles.
12He used to work as a therapist, teaching people how to physically recover from injuries or sickness.
13When he and his wife had a baby in July, he found that childcare centers were full.
14Without someone to take care of the baby, he could no longer leave home for work.
15He needed a job he could do from home.
16His new job permits him to teach at home using his computer, but he earns less money than before.
17Even if he had found a place for his baby, it would have been too costly.
18So for him to work from home was a better choice.
19Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has called the childcare business "broken," because it is too costly for parents.
20But workers who take care of children also are not paid very much.
21Right now, many childcare workers are looking for new jobs.
22Some workers are now earning two times their former pay at new workplaces.
23The people who own childcare businesses cannot pay enough to replace them.
24Amy McCoy owns a childcare business called Forever Young Daycare near Seattle, Washington.
25She is getting tired of doing several jobs because some of her employees stopped working.
26"Nobody wants to work for what I can afford to pay right now," McCoy said.
27She thinks parents will have to face higher costs so she can raise the pay for new workers.
28The U.S. Treasury Department reported in September that many childcare workers are poor, earning less than $25,000 a year.
29At the same time, childcare businesses do not make much money for their owners.
30Briana McFadden used to run a childcare business in Washington.
31She closed it last month after 12 years.
32She thinks she would have stayed open if she got money from the government.
33"It really wasn't worth it to continue," she said.
34She plans to start a new business - a small store.
35Biden is still trying to find support for the spending bill from U.S. lawmakers.
36And it is not clear if his plan to support children and families will be included in the final spending bill.
37Donald Schneider is an economics expert who once worked for the U.S. Congress.
38He said he thinks the help for children and childcare will cost about $465 billion over 10 years if it is approved.
39I'm Dan Friedell.
1Because of the COVID-19 health crisis, many American parents are having a difficult time balancing the needs of their children and work responsibilities. 2That is because many childcare centers in the United States have closed. The ones that remain open have limited spaces for additional children. 3Media reports say the problem is "a national crisis." The Associated Press (AP) notes that President Joe Biden is trying to include a "burst" of spending on children in the $1.9 trillion spending bill being considered by the U.S. Congress. 4The Biden administration has said it does not want parents to spend more than seven percent of their income on childcare costs. The administration also wants pre-school for very young children to be available to every family. 5Betsey Stevenson is an economist at the University of Michigan. She said a change in the availability of childcare will make a difference in the U.S. economy for many years. She said it will do this by "influencing who returns to work, what types of jobs parents take and the career path they are able to follow." 6One of those parents is Bryan Kang of Los Angeles. He used to work as a therapist, teaching people how to physically recover from injuries or sickness. 7When he and his wife had a baby in July, he found that childcare centers were full. Without someone to take care of the baby, he could no longer leave home for work. He needed a job he could do from home. 8His new job permits him to teach at home using his computer, but he earns less money than before. Even if he had found a place for his baby, it would have been too costly. So for him to work from home was a better choice. 9Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has called the childcare business "broken," because it is too costly for parents. But workers who take care of children also are not paid very much. 10Right now, many childcare workers are looking for new jobs. Some workers are now earning two times their former pay at new workplaces. The people who own childcare businesses cannot pay enough to replace them. 11Amy McCoy owns a childcare business called Forever Young Daycare near Seattle, Washington. She is getting tired of doing several jobs because some of her employees stopped working. 12"Nobody wants to work for what I can afford to pay right now," McCoy said. She thinks parents will have to face higher costs so she can raise the pay for new workers. 13The U.S. Treasury Department reported in September that many childcare workers are poor, earning less than $25,000 a year. At the same time, childcare businesses do not make much money for their owners. 14Briana McFadden used to run a childcare business in Washington. She closed it last month after 12 years. She thinks she would have stayed open if she got money from the government. 15"It really wasn't worth it to continue," she said. She plans to start a new business - a small store. 16Biden is still trying to find support for the spending bill from U.S. lawmakers. And it is not clear if his plan to support children and families will be included in the final spending bill. 17Donald Schneider is an economics expert who once worked for the U.S. Congress. He said he thinks the help for children and childcare will cost about $465 billion over 10 years if it is approved. 18I'm Dan Friedell. 19Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by The Associated Press. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor. 20What should the U.S. do about the cost of childcare? Tell us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page. 21____________________________________________________________________ 22Words in This Story 23burst - n. a short period of producing or doing something that begins suddenly 24type -n. a particular kind or group of things or people 25career -n. a job or profession that someone has for a long time 26therapist - n. a person trained in methods of treating illnesses especially without the use of drugs or surgery 27afford - v. to be able to pay for something