The Family Friendly Workforce Advantage

Access to affordable, high-quality childcare is not only critical for family financial stability but also has a direct and substantial impact on workforce availability and economic development. According to a 2024 report from North Carolina’s Department of Commerce, access to affordable childcare could add up to 68,000 jobs and could increase economic input by up to $13.3 billion. Even so, the lack of such access remains a barrier to this type of growth across North Carolina and the country at large. Childcare is an economic issue and, as such, raises the question: what can the economic community do to address it?              Our project focuses on a solution that is within the control of the business community and individual employers. We have focused on identifying key areas to create more family-friendly employee policies and practices that, in turn, become a competitive advantage in recruiting and retaining a strong workforce. These key areas include flexible work and predictable scheduling, paid and flexible leave, childcare assistance, and wellness supports. This project provides employers with a family-friendly assessment that can help business leaders reflect on and build upon current policies and practices, resulting in a stronger, more stable, and more available workforce. We believe that by focusing on what is within the control of and realistic for individual employers, and by making small changes in key family-friendly areas, each business can create individualized environments in which family and childcare needs are valued. As a result, employees are empowered to come to work with the security of knowing that their family’s needs will be met and will not negatively impact their employment. A family-friendly business is a competitive, sought-after, and successful business with reliable and effective employees.