Tracey WelsonRossmanFollowCode Like A Girl--ListenShareTwo recent articles highlight the complex interplay between the escalating Childcare crisis and the deepening labour shortages in the United States. As these issues collide, we can no longer afford to ignore them.www.wsj.comThe first article by the Wall Street Journal, Why America Has a Long-Term Labor Crisis, in Six Charts, details why the US is facing a long-term labour shortage. This shortage is already hurting the economy, as businesses are struggling to find workers to fill open positions.The number of job openings in the United States is at a record high, with over 11 million job openings as of July 2023. The unemployment rate remains low, at 3.6% as of August 2023. The labour force participation rate has been declining since the COVID-19 pandemic began, with about 600,000 fewer people in the labour force in July 2023 than in February 2020. And the aging population continues to take people out of the workforce.www.inquirer.comThe second article from the Philadelphia Inquirer discusses the end of federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act to help with childcare costs. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the childcare crisis in the United States. Many childcare providers have closed their doors and those who remain open face staffing shortages and rising costs.The WSJ report highlights statistics that intersect with the Inquirer report. Women's labour force participation rate has been declining for decades, from 60.2% in 2000 to 57.4% in 2020.The lack of affordable childcare is a significant obstacle to solving the labour shortage problem, and the impact of childcare on the labour market is especially pronounced for women. Women are more likely to be the primary caregivers for children. They are also more likely to work in lower-wage jobs with less flexibility. This means that women are more likely to be affected by the lack of affordable and accessible childcare.Here are some specific examples of how childcare is impacting the labour market:Organizations can take several actions to support their workforces as they confront childcare and labour shortages. According to a study done by Power To Fly, offering good childcare benefits is one of the top ways employers can combat the pay gap. Still, it’s also good for business: studies have shown that childcare benefits can reduce absenteeism by as much as 30% and turnover by up to 60%. Companies such as Microsoft, Dow Jones and others are seeing these benefits.Addressing the childcare crisis is integral to resolving the persistent labour shortages in the United States. If this country is serious about solving a piece of this puzzle, supporting childcare will keep a vital piece of the workforce engaged in the workplace.----Code Like A GirlMom, Wife, CMO of Chariot Solutions, Music Lover, and Founder of http://TechGirlz.org. Opinions are my ownTracey WelsonRossmaninCode Like A Girl--1ayşe bilge gündüzinCode Like A Girl--9Andrea M. FullerinCode Like A Girl--2Tracey WelsonRossman--Unbecoming--958Clayton MoulynoxinILLUMINATION--204AL Anany--363Thomas SmithinBetter Marketing--106Jonathan Lethem--132Scott Galloway--56HelpStatusWritersBlogCareersPrivacyTermsAboutText to speechTeams