Child care in New York remains under severe strain due to widespread staffing shortages, high costs, and inadequate availability, according to a report released this week by State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli. Despite some recovery since the early days of the pandemic, nearly 60% of the state’s census tracts were still considered “child care deserts” in 2023.
“The pandemic’s disruption of the state’s child care industry is far from over,” DiNapoli said. “Prices in New York are among the highest in the nation, while child care workers earn wages well below the state’s median, making it hard to attract and retain the workforce needed to provide services.”
Child care prices in New York increased nearly 18% over five years, with the average cost reaching $14,621 annually per child in 2023, second only to Massachusetts. Infant center-based care can cost families over $20,000 a year. Meanwhile, child care workers earned a median wage of $38,234, far below the state’s overall median.
Staffing issues have stifled recovery efforts, particularly outside New York City and Long Island. Providers cite low wages and a lack of benefits like health insurance and paid leave as obstacles to attracting new workers. In 2020 alone, the child care industry saw a 19.8% drop in employment due to pandemic-related shutdowns, and many rural areas have yet to recover fully.
“New York’s got about 2,000 fewer child care providers now than we did in 2015,” said State Senator Jabari Brisport, Chair of the Children and Families Committee. “We have a solution ready to go… It’s time to pass universal child care.”
The state has seen recent increases in child care slots and provider numbers, aided by temporary federal funding, but challenges persist. With pandemic aid dwindling, the state’s operating budget for child care support is projected to grow from $432 million to over $1.2 billion by 2028. Proposals for further investments, including $100 million in capital funding for new child care centers, are included in the 2025 budget plan.
Lawmakers, union leaders, and child care advocates are urging both federal and state action. U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is pushing for passage of the Child Care Workforce and Facilities Act, which would allocate $100 million to address worker training and expand access in child care deserts. “This is a vital investment in New York’s children, families, and workforce,” Gillibrand said.
Advocates argue that without sustained investment and wage increases for workers, parents will continue to face overwhelming costs and limited access. “Investing in child care yields profound benefits for children, families, society, and the economy,” said Mario Cilento, president of the New York State AFL-CIO.
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