{"id":316931,"date":"2026-06-16T09:54:10","date_gmt":"2026-06-16T13:54:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/?p=316931"},"modified":"2026-07-09T15:24:31","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T19:24:31","slug":"what-are-parents-biggest-challenges-in-finding-childcare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beta.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/social-trends\/2026\/06\/16\/what-are-parents-biggest-challenges-in-finding-childcare\/","title":{"rendered":"What are parents\u2019 biggest challenges in finding childcare?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
About this research<\/summary>\n

This Pew Research Center report looks at the experiences of working parents in the United States, including how they navigate the demands of work and family life, how they divide responsibilities at home, and how workplace benefits and arrangements shape their experiences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why did we do this?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pew Research Center does research to help the public, the media and decision-makers understand important topics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This research is part of Pew Research Center\u2019s ongoing effort to understand how Americans navigate work<\/a> and family life<\/a> and the changing demands placed on parents<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How did we do this?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The report is based primarily on a Pew Research Center survey of 2,242 U.S. working parents conducted March 2-15, 2026. Everyone who took part is a member of the Center\u2019s American Trends Panel<\/a>. The survey represents the views of U.S. working parents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the survey questions<\/a> used for this report, the detailed responses<\/a> and the survey methodology<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to survey data, the report also includes analysis of parents in the labor force using data from the U.S. Census Bureau\u2019s Current Population Survey.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

As many working parents struggle with the cost of childcare<\/a>, the issue has become a focus for policymakers across the political spectrum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We asked 849 working parents with at least one child age 5 or younger about their experiences finding care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Chart<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Parents value quality of childcare over any other factor. But across income levels, cost is among the biggest challenges<\/strong> in finding childcare that suits their needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About half (48%) of working parents who need care for a child age 5 or younger say it\u2019s difficult to find an arrangement that meets their cost expectations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond quality, majorities of parents also place a great deal of importance on hours of availability, location and educational opportunities when looking for childcare. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Workplace childcare<\/strong> is an area where what parents value and what\u2019s available to them are out of sync. A majority (59%) of working parents with children 5 or younger \u2013 including 68% of working moms with a kid in this age group \u2013 say it would be extremely or very helpful to have onsite childcare at their workplace. But just 7% say this is available to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many parents use multiple care arrangements<\/strong> to cover their work hours. About four-in-ten working parents (39%) say they use more than one care arrangement for the same child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These findings are part of a larger survey of 2,242 U.S. working parents conducted March 2-15, 2026. Read key findings<\/a> from the full study.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some parents struggle more than others finding childcare<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are wide<\/strong> income differences<\/strong> in parents\u2019 ability to find what they\u2019re looking for, beyond affordability, in a childcare arrangement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Chart<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Among working parents with a child age 5 or younger, those with upper family incomes are more likely than those with middle and lower incomes to say it\u2019s easy<\/em> to find care that meets their needs on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n