The Economic Impact of Child Care on Sonoma County
- Child care is a $91 million industry in Sonoma County
- Our community reaps $7 for every $1 invested in child care
- Sonoma County's child care industry employs 2,412 people
- Our current supply of child care will not meet the growing need without partnerships between businesses, government, and the child care industry
Working together, 4Cs and the Sonoma County Child Care Planning Council recently commissioned the National Economic Development & Law Center in Oakland to produce a study assessing the economic impact of child care in Sonoma County. The results are of significance to both the business community and the public sector.
Every political leader, developer, and owner of a business - small or large - should take a close look at this study. Studies have shown that reliable child care affects a company's bottom line through increased productivity, reduced absenteeism, and lower turnover.
Employers can help by allowing employees to work part-time or flex their hours, or job share. They can also set up systems that allow employees to put some pre-tax dollars into tax-free accounts to pay for child care. Employers benefit from employees having dependable quality child care.
Parents should bring the ideas and information from the Economic Impact Report to their employers attention.
Child care providers have the opportunity to inform the parents they serve and any business partners they may work with about the Economic Impact of child care on Sonoma County's economy.
To obtain a copy of the Child Care Economic Impact Report for Sonoma County choose from the following:
Economic Impact Report
Economic Impact Report Summary
