Our state’s child care system is an economic necessity that drives opportunity for children, families and employers. Without sustainable funding solutions that make early child care and education affordable and accessible to all, our state’s future is in danger. See how it affects everyone in South Carolina.
A recent report, conducted by the US Chamber of Commerce Foundation with the SC Chamber of Commerce and SC Department of Social Services, reveals that child care shortages and high costs force many South Carolina parents to miss work or quit jobs —severely impacting businesses and state tax revenue.
$997 Million
in annual costs to South Carolina parents, businesses and taxpayers
$818M
Annual cost of child care-related employee turnover and absenteeism among SC employers
$179M
Estimated loss of South Carolina tax revenue due to child care issues
$910
Average monthly cost for parents using child care centers as one of their care arrangements
$579
Average monthly child care cost for parents (includes those with no child care costs)
4 of out 10
parents attending school or work training reported needing to make significant adjustments to their schedules due to child care issues
“Untapped Potential in SC” Report
See the full report for a comprehensive look at the impact of child care among parents, business owners and SC taxpayers.
DOWNLOAD68%
of children in SC 5 and under have all available parents in the workforce
Source: US Census, American Community Survey, Five-Year Estimates, 2022
42%
of South Carolinians live in a child care desert
US Census, American Community Survey, Five-Year Estimates, 2022
27%
of working parents report having their employment impacted by child care issues
Source: SC Chamber of Commerce Grassroots Tour, 2023
69%
of SC businesses report struggling to hire and retain qualified workers
Source: SC Chamber of Commerce Grassroots Tour, 2023
Reduce Child Care Costs
Parents may qualify for financial assistance that can lower child care costs.
Child Care ScholarshipsExplore Quality-Rated Programs
ABC Quality programs are committed to ongoing, continuous improvement.
Find a ProviderInvest in South Carolina’s Workforce
Take steps to help make child care a part of employee benefits programs.
Business Role