Sheltering Arms closes opportunity gaps by transforming the lives of children and their families. This is where we share the research, advocacy, and conversations driving that work forward.
In Georgia, the workforce problem no one can ignore isn’t talent. It’s childcare. Every day, parents across our state miss shifts, turn down promotions, or leave jobs altogether, not by choice, but because childcare is too expensive, too hard to find, or simply unavailable. This is no longer just a family issue. It’s an economic one.
The impact reaches far beyond individual households. According to a recent study by the Georgia Early Education Alliance for Ready Students (GEEARS), childcare challenges cost Georgia at least $1.75 billion in economic activity each year, along with an additional $105 million in lost tax revenue. At the same time, early learning programs are closing or reducing capacity, educators are leaving for higher-paying jobs, and families are facing long waitlists and rising costs. The system is under strain, and businesses are already feeling the effects.
If your organization is struggling to recruit, retain, or fully engage employees, childcare is part of the equation. It’s time to stop treating childcare as a workplace perk and start recognizing it for what it is: essential infrastructure. Like roads, broadband, and utilities, childcare enables people to show up, contribute, and grow within the workforce.
The good news is that employers don’t need to build onsite childcare centers to make a meaningful difference. Companies can offer childcare stipends or subsidies, partner with trusted providers, reserve slots for employees, create schedules that better support working families, and invest in community-based programs. These solutions are practical, scalable, and increasingly essential to building a resilient workforce.
Creating a stronger childcare system is a shared responsibility. Public investment matters, and employer engagement is equally important. When childcare works, businesses are more productive, employees are more stable, and children are better prepared for the future. That isn’t simply a social benefit. It’s a smart economic strategy.
If we want a stronger workforce in Georgia, we must build a stronger childcare system. The future of our economy depends on it. Investing in high-quality early childhood education isn’t simply an investment in children and families. It’s an investment in our businesses, our communities, and our state’s long-term economic success.
At Sheltering Arms, we are committed to working alongside employers, policymakers, and community partners to strengthen Georgia’s childcare system and the workforce it supports. Together, we can build solutions that help children thrive, families succeed, businesses grow, and our state’s economy remain strong.
Explore the interactive Child Care Gaps Assessment to see childcare supply, demand, and access across Georgia by county and community:
Blythe Keeler Robinson, Sheltering Arms’ President and CEO, brings her own voice to the conversation. Read her ongoing series, Breaking it Down with Blythe, for her perspective on leadership, early childhood education, and what it really takes to move the needle for children and families in Georgia.
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