New Report Shows Child Care Access Could Unlock Billions in Economic Growth for Louisiana

Written By Alicia Vial

The report reveals how child care challenges limit parents’ employment and the state’s ability to meet growing workforce needs

BATON ROUGE, LA — Today, Louisiana Policy Institute for Children (LPIC) released “The Missing Piece: Quality Early Childhood Education as an Essential Component in Addressing Louisiana’s Labor Force Needs,” which examines how child care access affects parents’ ability to work and Louisiana’s economic success. The report combines a statewide survey of 500 Louisiana adults with children under the age of 5 with an economic analysis developed by the Kathleen Babineaux Blanco Public Policy Center at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Researchers at Louisiana State University led the survey phase of the study.

The findings show that in today’s current system, child care challenges are limiting parents’ employment opportunities, with more than one-third of respondents reporting reduced work hours and almost 1 in 5 reporting they had to quit a job because of child care issues. The economic analysis in the report examines the impact a comprehensive early childhood education system would have on Louisiana families and the economy. That analysis finds that statewide, comprehensive early childhood education could generate $3.2 billion in additional earnings and $5.3 billion in economic output.

The results provide insights into the connection between child care and Louisiana’s workforce, emphasizing the following:

  • Child care challenges disrupt employment. Parents report reduced work hours, leaving jobs, and experiencing inconveniences such as arriving late or leaving work early due to child care issues.

  • Affordability remains an issue. Nearly 70% of respondents reported some difficulty finding affordable child care, while 36% described that search as extremely challenging.

  • Expanded access to early childhood education could strengthen the economy in Louisiana. The analysis estimates that statewide comprehensive early childhood education could bring almost 30,000 additional parents into Louisiana’s labor force and generate roughly $129 million in new annual state tax collections once labor force and earnings gains have fully adjusted.

“Louisiana’s parents want to work and provide for their families, but too many are held back by the cost and availability of child care,” said Libbie Sonnier, Ph.D, chief executive officer of LPIC. “This report makes it clear that early childhood education must be a part of Louisiana’s workforce strategy going forward. Investing in reliable, affordable care can help parents stay employed, businesses find the workers they need, and our children get a strong start.”

Child care challenges place a particularly heavy burden on single parents and families with lower incomes. Nearly three-quarters of single- parent respondents reported reducing their work hours due to child care issues, while one-third reported quitting a job. These disruptions can undermine families’ financial stability and make it harder for employers to retain workers.

“As Louisiana attracts new investment and creates economic opportunities, access to quality child care is essential to ensuring businesses have the workforce they need,” said Scott Poole, chief executive officer of RoyOMartin and a LABI member. “When parents can find reliable, affordable child care, they can enter the workforce, stay on the job and provide for their families. Strengthening child care access is a direct investment in Louisiana’s workforce, businesses and long-term economic growth.”

The projected economic benefits include gains from increased workforce participation and fewer child care disruptions, along with the broader effects of additional business and household spending. The $5.3 billion estimate represents gross economic output, including sales throughout the supply chain. The analysis does not include longer-term benefits such as higher lifetime earnings for children who receive early childhood education. Louisiana has an opportunity to strengthen its workforce by making quality early education more accessible to working families.

The complete findings from “The Missing Piece: Quality Early Childhood Education as an Essential Component in Addressing Louisiana’s Labor Force Needs” can be found here. Survey data was collected April 13-21, 2026. The report was made possible with support from Entergy and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. For more information on LPIC, please visit PolicyInstituteLA.org.

###

About Louisiana Policy Institute for Children: Louisiana Policy Institute for Children is a 501(c)(3) nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that Louisiana's young children, from birth to age four, are best prepared for success in school and in life. The Policy Institute develops policy proposals informed by data, research, best practices, and the experiences of other states to improve the outcomes of Louisiana’s youngest citizens, and further provides educational and outreach activities based on recommended policy solutions. The organization works to ensure children are safe, healthy, and have the opportunity to reach their full potential. For more information, visit www.policyinstitutela.org and follow the Louisiana Policy Institute for Children on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Alicia Vial

Alicia Vial is a New Orleans native with more than a decade of experience elevating client stories and leading crisis response. As the senior director of strategy, Alicia acts as a leader within the Gambel Communications team ensuring each agency team member is positioned to deliver strategic public relations services that meet the highest standards of the industry. In addition to supporting the agency’s long-term business growth and development, she coordinates day-to-day account services and oversees strategic direction while staying abreast of best practices and industry trends to provide innovative solutions to meet client’s needs.

Before joining Gambel Communications, Alicia served as the communications director for the Louisiana SPCA, the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in Louisiana that impacts more than 74,000 animals per year. During her nearly eight-year tenure, Alicia oversaw numerous crises, served on national communication taskforces, oversaw all aspects of internal and external relations and worked alongside the development department to raise critical funding. Prior to that, she worked in the fast-paced New Orleans hospitality industry focusing on digital public relations for multiple hotels.

Alicia is a member of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF), a board member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) New Orleans Chapter and a member of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute. An accredited public relations practitioner (APR), Alicia is also certified in crisis communications, organizational leadership, content marketing and social media.

A well respected and trusted public relations practitioner, Alicia has been recognized by SPRF as a ‘Senior Practitioner of the Year’. Dubbed early on in her career as one to watch, she also received the ‘Rising Star’ award by PRAL and was profiled in St. Charles Avenue Magazine as part of their Young Bloods series. Most recently, she was recognized at PRSA’s annual Fleurish Awards and received four Awards of Excellence for her work along with the ‘Plate Spinner’ award for her efforts on the board of directors for the chapter.

An LSU graduate, Alicia received a bachelor's degree in mass communications with a concentration in public relations and minors in business administration and leadership development. She is a frequent speaker and presenter on public relations topics, most recently presenting at the Jefferson Economic Development Commission and SPRF annual conference.

When Alicia is not at work, you can find her at the ballpark with her three boys or cheering on the Tigers in Death Valley.

Previous

Beignet sandwiches and the sweet potato flavor profile take center stage on the 2026 Beignet Fest menu
Next

New Orleans BioInnovation Center announces six finalists for 2026 BioChallenge