81 Local Chambers of Commerce Urge Pennsylvania General Assembly to Strengthen Child Care Workforce

Coalition calls for increase for Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention, plus additional investments in Pre-K Counts and Head Start

POTTSVILLE, Pa. — A growing coalition of 81 local chambers of commerce from across Pennsylvania is urging members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly to continue investing in the child care workforce as part of the final 2026-27 state budget.

The coalition, led by the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce and joined by chambers representing communities in every region of the commonwealth, delivered a sign-on letter to state lawmakers calling for additional investments in the Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention Program as well as the Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts and Head Start Supplemental Assistance Programs.

The letter emphasizes that Pennsylvania’s child care crisis is not only a family issue, but also a workforce and economic development challenge. Employers across the commonwealth continue to report that working parents are struggling to find and afford quality child care, making it harder to fill open positions, maintain productivity, and support local economic growth.

“Eighty local chambers speaking with one voice sends a powerful message: Pennsylvania’s child care crisis is a workforce crisis, and it is holding back employers in every corner of the commonwealth,” said Robert S. Carl, Jr., President & CEO of the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce. “Local chambers are hearing directly from businesses that parents cannot fully participate in the workforce when child care classrooms are closed, waitlists are long, and providers cannot retain teachers. This coalition continues to grow because the business community understands that investing in child care is investing in Pennsylvania’s economy.”

The Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention Program was created as a first step to help child care providers address severe staffing shortages by supporting teacher recruitment and retention. Chamber leaders say growing the program would help providers better compete in a tight labor market, stabilize classrooms, and expand access for working families.

“Lancaster County employers know that access to child care directly affects whether parents can work, advance in their careers, and contribute to our local economy,” said Heather Valudes, President & CEO of The Lancaster Chamber. “Strengthening the child care workforce is a practical, pro-business solution that supports families, employers, and long-term economic competitiveness.”

The coalition’s letter notes that child care providers continue to struggle to compete with other sectors that can offer higher wages, while the average child care teacher in Pennsylvania earns just over $15 per hour. As a result, providers are forced to close classrooms, limit enrollment, and maintain long waitlists despite strong demand from working families.

“In Indiana County and communities like ours across Pennsylvania, employers need reliable access to talent, and parents need reliable access to child care,” said Mark Hilliard, President of the Indiana County Chamber of Commerce. “When child care providers cannot hire and keep staff, businesses feel the impact through absenteeism, turnover, and unfilled jobs. A stronger investment in recruitment and retention is an investment in workforce stability.” 

The chambers are also calling for increased investments in Pre-K Counts and the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program to help early learning providers address inflationary pressures and workforce shortages. These programs serve young children while helping parents work, and chamber leaders say maintaining and strengthening them is essential to Pennsylvania’s broader workforce strategy. 

“Child care and early learning are essential infrastructure for a strong economy,” said Laura Manion, President & CEO of the Chester County Chamber of Business and Industry. “Businesses cannot grow if parents cannot find care, and providers cannot meet demand if they cannot retain qualified teachers. These investments will help stabilize the system and support families and employers alike.”

The sign-on letter also emphasizes that Pennsylvania’s child care crisis costs working families and employers approximately $6.5 billion annually in lost wages and productivity. The coalition applauds bipartisan action taken in recent years, including new state tax credits to help working families afford child care and the creation of the Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention Program, while urging lawmakers to build on that progress in the final budget.

“This is more than just child care and pre-k,” the letter states. “It’s an economic development strategy, a workforce participation strategy, and an education success strategy for our youngest learners.”
The proposed 2026-27 state budget increases the Child Care Staff Recruitment and Retention Program by $10 million and invests an additional $7.5 million in Pennsylvania Pre-K Counts as well as an additional $2 million in the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program.