The Impact of Childcare Costs on Families' Financial Security
May 31, 2024
In-depth

In May 2024, Count on Mothers examined how childcare costs and access shape U.S. families' financial security — including effects on savings, work hours, net income, career advancement, and long-term earning potential. Drawing on a national sample of mothers across regions and the political spectrum, the survey combined eight quantitative measures with an open-ended question inviting mothers to propose solutions. Findings show that childcare costs exert significant pressure on family finances, employment decisions, and long-term economic security — with patterns largely consistent across the political spectrum.

Related themes:

Shared Priorities and Cross-Partisan Alignment Among Mothers

  • Childcare consumes a significant share of household income:
    Among mothers who pay for childcare, 55% spend more than 10% of household income, and 37% spend more than 15%, indicating substantial financial strain.
  • Childcare costs undermine financial stability:
    Nearly 7 in 10 mothers say childcare expenses directly limit their ability to save for emergencies, education, or retirement, and more than half report that lack of access to childcare has contributed to financial insecurity.
  • Reduced earnings are common:
    Over 60% of mothers report reduced household net income due to childcare needs, and a similar share say they have cut work hours or earnings to manage caregiving responsibilities.
  • Reliance on informal care is widespread:
    About 72% of mothers rely primarily on family members, partners, or themselves for childcare during working hours rather than paid care.
  • Long-term earning potential is at risk:
    More than half of mothers believe taking time out of the workforce for childcare has negatively affected their future earning potential, with variation by political affiliation.
  • Mothers call for affordability and systemic solutions:
    In open-ended responses, mothers most frequently suggested lowering or capping childcare costs, increasing public subsidies, employer-based childcare supports, and more flexible work arrangements.

Source: Count on Mothers, The Impact of Childcare Costs on Families' Financial Security, May 2024. Nationally representative survey of U.S. mothers, n=1,048, across 48 states, weighted across political ideology and region. Findings submitted into the record at the U.S. Senate Finance Committee hearing on Examining the State of Child Care: How Federal Policy Solutions Can Support Families, Close Existing Gaps, and Strengthen Economic Growth. Findings presented to CHIPS for America at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Research led by a PhD-credentialed researcher and an MPH data scientist.

Research Library

Explore Count on Mothers reports — rapid polls and in-depth national studies.

Methodology
Count on Mothers conducts nationally representative research with U.S. mothers, weighted to reflect the population and reported in aggregate. Research is led by a PhD + MPH team. Findings have informed policy, industry, and media, and entered the Congressional Record on childcare, paid leave, and technology policy.
In-depth

Mothers' Views on the House Bipartisan Paid Leave Working Group Framework

In February 2024, Count on Mothers examined mothers' views on the House Bipartisan Paid Leave Working Group's federal Paid Family Leave Framework. Drawing on a nationally representative sample of mothers across regions and the political spectrum, the survey captured firsthand perspectives on each pillar of the framework: a federal pilot program, state program standardization, small business pooling plans, expanded paid leave tax credits, and a national paid leave guarantee. Mothers showed strong cross-partisan support for every provision in the framework — with majority agreement across every ideological group on all five components.
February 29, 2024
View Report →
Rapid Poll

Mothers' Views on the Secure the Border Act (S.2824)

In January 2024, Count on Mothers examined mothers' views on the Secure the Border Act (S.2824), federal legislation addressing border security, asylum procedures, and immigration enforcement. Drawing on a nationally representative sample of mothers across regions and the political spectrum, the survey captured firsthand perspectives on the bill's security measures, technology investments, and provisions affecting children. Mothers expressed mixed overall views on the legislation, with strong support for specific security and technology provisions and more divided opinion on enforcement provisions, alongside clear ideological patterns in how mothers approached the bill's components.
January 31, 2024
View Report →
Rapid Poll

Mothers' Views on the GOSAFE Act (S.3369)

In December 2023–January 2024, Count on Mothers examined mothers' views on the GOSAFE Act (S.3369), federal legislation regulating gas-operated semi-automatic firearms. Combining a national survey of mothers across regions and the political spectrum with in-depth interviews, the study captured perspectives on fixed-capacity restrictions, federal manufacturing regulation, conversion device bans, and a voluntary buy-back program. Mothers identified gun violence as a serious crisis affecting children and families — with broad support for the bill among liberal and moderate mothers, more divided views among conservative mothers, and differing emphases on solutions.
January 15, 2024
View Report →
In-depth

Mothers’ Views on the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Kids Off Social Media Act (KOSMA)

In 2023, Count on Mothers conducted three studies on two landmark federal bills addressing children's safety on social media: the Kids Off Social Media Act (KOSMA) and the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). Drawing on surveys of mothers across regions and the political spectrum, supplemented by an in-depth focus group, the studies captured firsthand views on minimum age requirements, algorithmic protections, data privacy, parental notification, and independent oversight of social media companies. Mothers showed near-universal cross-partisan support for both bills — with 96% saying KOSMA should become law and 98% supporting federal requirements to protect minors' data and remove addictive features. A consistent theme emerged: mothers view these bills not as a replacement for parental involvement, but as a structural safeguard for spaces families cannot monitor alone.
December 15, 2023
View Report →
To learn more about partnerships, visit Partner With Us
Exploring how independent benchmark data could inform your work?
Partner With Us