Childcare Costs Soar Post-Pandemic: How Families Are Coping

American middle-class families are feeling the squeeze as childcare costs skyrocket in the wake of COVID-19. With daycare closures, safety upgrades, and a shrinking pool of teachers, parents are stuck in a financial bind.

The pandemic reshaped childcare like a game of Jenga—pull out one piece, and the whole system wobbles. Many providers now charge up to 30% more to cover PPE, smaller class sizes, and staff retention. Yet wages haven’t kept pace, leaving families to ask: 'Is returning to work even worth it?'

In Miami, parents like single mom Jessica Rivera juggle multiple jobs just to afford care for her toddler. 'I’m working to pay for daycare so I can work,' she says. It’s a Catch-22 echoing nationwide.

As part of our Child Care Crisis series, we’ll explore solutions—from policy shifts to community co-ops. Because when childcare collapses, so does the economy.

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The pandemic raises childcare costs

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