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New research shows working parents now rank childcare alongside healthcare as essential to staying in the workforce, yet limited employer support is quietly driving absenteeism, reduced hours, and resignations.
Childcare has overtaken retirement benefits as one of the most important workplace offerings for working parents, according to new research from KinderCare Learning Companies. However, access to employer-supported childcare remains limited, creating growing pressure on families and organisations alike.
According to a media release shared on Business Wire, the seventh annual KinderCare Confidence Index found that parents increasingly view childcare not as a perk but as core workplace infrastructure. The study was conducted online by The Harris Poll between 5 and 13 November 2025, surveying 2,509 US parents with children aged 12 and under, comprising 1,056 parents with children aged five and below and 1,453 with children aged six to 12.
*While the survey was conducted in the US, Human Resources Online believes the data remains relevant to our readers in APAC.
Childcare now seen as essential, not optional
85% of working parents said child care benefits should be treated as essential, on par with healthcare and retirement provisions. This marks a significant shift in how employees define workplace support.
Despite this demand, only about one in three employers currently offer childcare benefits, respondents reported. The gap between expectations and reality suggests many organisations risk falling behind on a benefit that directly affects workforce stability.
A quiet workforce exit driven by care challenges
The research highlights the real-world consequences of unreliable childcare. Three-quarters of working parents said they know someone who has left the workforce due to childcare difficulties. More than a quarter said they have personally considered quitting, or have already quit, because of these challenges.
Lack of backup options also compounds the issue. Over one in four parents reported having no emergency childcare plan if their primary arrangement falls through.
Day-to-day work disruption is already widespread:
- 50% have missed work due to childcare issues
- 35% have reduced their working hours
- 28% reported tension with managers
- 24% reported tension with colleagues
Productivity and loyalty at stake
The report suggests the implications extend well beyond individual employees. 81% of parents said they wish their employer better understood that reliable childcare is critical to productivity. Two-thirds acknowledged that unreliable care had negatively affected their job performance.
At the same time, support for parents appears to be a powerful retention lever. 79% said they would feel more loyal to their organisation if their employer provided better support for working parents.
The findings highlight a growing gap between what working parents need to stay in employment and what many organisations currently provide. As more households rely on dual incomes and access to reliable care remains uncertain, childcare support is becoming a practical workforce issue rather than a personal one. For employers, responding to this need may be key to sustaining productivity, retention, and long-term talent stability.
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