Childcare a factor in worker shortages

Childcare a factor in worker shortages

Gaps in supermarket shelves, along with reports of restaurants running out of ingredients and even hospitals lacking important supplies have led to serious concerns that the country’s supply chains are in a bad way. Although much of the blame has been ascribed to the pandemic, as well as to changes brought in by Brexit, many analysts suggest that multiple factors have led to a perfect storm, reducing the number of service and agricultural workers, as well as Heavy Goods Vehicle drivers that will not pass soon. Childcare is one of these variables, once again proving how vital accessible provision is to the economic wellbeing of the country.

Despite the availability of free or subsidised childcare, for many families, particularly those with young children, it is very difficult for both partners to find full time work. This, combined with changes to working patterns due to the pandemic, as well as many migrant workers returning to their home countries, is causing many critical businesses difficulties in finding staff. Pay is always a factor, but so are conditions, and when faced with the prospect of also having to find a way to ensure their children are looked after, many parents simply find that these jobs are not viable.

Access to childcare has dramatically improved over recent years, but declining childminder numbers as well as concerns about the sufficiency of statutory funding means the sector finds itself confronting significant burdens when doing its part to keep the country running. There are many other issues as well of course, and a holistic approach is needed to solve the problem, but the importance of childcare provision cannot be ignored.