The economic importance of early childhood education extends far beyond the direct development benefits for children and the associated long-term outcomes. Having sufficient access to quality childcare provides an added, more immediate benefit to working parents who often must weigh caregiving responsibilities with maintaining a job. Early learning opportunities thereby support workforce participation and advancement, strengthening the overall economy. At the same time, however,...| Florida TaxWatch
Throughout Florida, there are approximately 1.28 million children under the age of six, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. About 69.1 percent (883,085 children) had two parents participating in Florida’s workforce, while 285,097 children (22.3 percent) had only one parent in the labor force, and more than 109,000 children (8.6 percent) had no parents in the labor force. Not every case of non-participation is driven by childcare challenges, yet a 2022-23 survey found that 15.3...| Florida TaxWatch