The cost of child care takes a huge chunk out of parents’ paychecks. But at the same time, many child care workers make barely enough to support themselves. And, now the costs are rising.  

Families across the U.S. today spend 30 percent more on their average child care payments than they did in 2019, according to new data from Bank of America.

In Minnesota, child care centers are having trouble paying competitive wages and attracting workers. And for every new home day care that opens, almost two close.

• 
  
  Rural town tries innovative solution to child care crisis
  
  


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  Minnesota lawmakers pledge at least $300 million toward early education
  
  


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  Rural Minnesota child care shortage leaves parents with few choices
  
  

MPR News host Angela Davis talks with guests about why affordable child care is so hard to establish and whether new state programs and funding could bring more people into the profession.  

 Guests:  

• Hannah Yang is the southwest Minnesota senior reporter for MPR News.   




• Kyra Miles is the early childhood education reporter for MPR News.  




• Ann McCully is the executive director of Child Care Aware of Minnesota.  




• Phyllis Sloan is the executive director of La Crèche Early Childhood Centers with two locations in North Minneapolis. 

Subscribe to the MPR News with Angela Davis podcast on: Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or RSS.  

Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.