Survey finds NC child care programs face critical staffing shortages

A new survey highlights the struggles North Carolina child care providers are facing as the state continues to recover from the pandemic.

Many say they're having a difficult time hiring and retaining qualified staff.

The North Carolina Child Care Resource and Referral Council worked with other groups to look at challenges child care providers are facing.

There were already concerns before the pandemic about low wages for workers, not having enough programs to meet needs, and the struggle to make services affordable. And it's getting worse.

According to the report —which represents 1,200 child care centers — the problems aren't divided along rural/urban lines.

Some of the key findings: on average, centers were currently looking to hire two to seven people. And some providers have abruptly closed their doors.

“We have more children who need child care than we have the ability to provide child care right now. We have child care centers that have closed classrooms and children on waiting lists because they don't have enough staff," says Sheila Hoyle, who is part of the council and serves as executive director of the Southwestern Childhood Development Commission.

Gov. Roy Cooper recently announced more than $800 million in federal COVID relief funding to help stabilize the industry. The application process recently opened for providers.

Hoyle says it's a temporary fix, but it's a big boon for many child care centers. She hopes the survey will spark more conversation from community stakeholders, government officials and employers to find long-term solutions.

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