Childcare Woes

This week, Ponca City lost 80 childcare spots in our community. Much like anything else, not all 80 spots were filled.   However, Staff is positive the filled childcare spots were utilized by workforce living and working in Ponca City. If you don't use childcare, you may not know parents finding a safe, available and affordable childcare provider when needed is not guaranteed.

Many parents have to seriously weigh the options of working outside the home and paying for childcare,  or staying at home with children and taking on part-time or "gig" jobs to make ends meet.  Why would someone work outside the home JUST to pay for childcare?  Childcare availability ranks high when surveying employees with families.  Employers who support childcare, education and training opportunities and promote from within score the highest in these same surveys.  Find out more about workforce trends by clicking on the OSU Center for the Future of Work WorkTrends White Paper here. 

If your company is interested in participating in the "what's next for childcare in Ponca City" discussion, PCDA staff will be smiling and dialing over the next few weeks.  These phone calls will be to put together a focus group and get this childcare party started.  Kids today are the future workforce.  Employers can start the onboarding process now with these future employees.