The report finds that Mississippians spend about $673 million each year to cover childcare services, and businesses lose an estimated $550 million due to absenteeism and high turnover.
Biz Harris, Executive Director of MELA, says more than half of employee absences are due to childcare issues.
“A lot of companies, corporations, and businesses can have a role to play in making sure that families have what they need, and so children have what they need,” said Harris. “They can also support their bottom line and address some of their more pressing workplace challenges and human resource challenges.”
Harris adds that Mississippi businesses are increasingly competing with neighboring states for talent, and access to childcare can be a major sticking point for a person to stay in the state.
“One thing that draws people out of the state is access to early learning opportunities, access to family experiences. And I think people in the early child-rearing years are making these decisions based on ‘what salary do I need’ but also ‘what kind of work can I do that also allows me to be a parent,’” said Harris.
Research from Rethink Mississippi shows that about one in four parents expect to leave the state within the next five years. Those who relocate report higher satisfaction than parents who remain in Mississippi.
In recent years, Mississippi has expanded funding for to childcare assistance programs, and Harris says the state’s new law creating paid parental leave marks a major step forward for supporting employees.
