Washington Business Spring 2019 | Washington Business | Page 41

business backgrounder | education & workforce
Our Best Investment
Child care and early learning investments boost current
and future workforce needs.
Amy Anderson
Washington is fortunate to have a high-quality child care and early learning system, which not
only supports employers and employees but also represents a significant portion of the economy.
But affordability and access issues must be addressed in order to meet future needs.
At A Glance
Quality, affordable child care is a
critical component for families and
for employers. Likewise, the lack of
affordable child care and early learning
opportunities can have an adverse
impact on the state’s economy.
Former Rep. Ruth Kagi, Sen. Andy Billig, Rep. Kristine Reeves and Rep. Tom Dent at the 2018 AWB
Early Childhood Learning event in SeaTac.
Washington state has a high-quality child care and early learning system. However, we struggle
with accessibility and affordability when it comes to this critical area of our state’s economy.
Child care and early childhood learning is a workforce issue, both for current employees and
future employees.
For current employees, affordability is a significant issue. When child care is unavailable
for whatever reason, adults in the workforce lose valuable work time and career development
opportunities.
And for the next generation of workforce, the issues of child care and early childhood learning
are essential to ensure that Washington state has systems that provide options and opportunities
for our state’s youngest learners to explore, grow and learn.
Child care is not just a key work support for parents, but it is also critical for the healthy
development of children to ensure they start school ready to learn. Investment in human capital,
defined as an individual’s suite of knowledge, talents, experiences and skills, is essential to grow
and sustain a globally competitive economy. In the face of rapidly advancing technology, human
capital becomes essential in both developing and taking advantage of new innovations.
Early childhood education pays off.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics, an employee with only a high
school diploma will earn 15 percent less
than an employee with an associate
degree, 39 percent less than an
employee with a bachelor’s degree and
50-60 percent less than an employee
with a graduate degree.
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