Guest view: Early childhood development an economic imperative for Montana

Across Montana, as the unemployment rate has dropped to its lowest level in more than 10 years, business leaders face challenges finding qualified workers to fill job openings. Increasingly, Montana employers report that a shortage of early care programs for infants and toddlers prevents many parents of young children from entering or returning to the workplace.

As labor markets continue to tighten, availability of early care programs may affect whether businesses can grow and thrive.

But the shortage of child care programs could have an even bigger impact on Montana’s workforce and economy in the long term.

DEBORAH NEUMAN -ROB GRUNEWALD

https://helenair.com/opinion/columnists/guest-view-early-childhood-development-an-economic-imperative-for-montana/article_defdb57c-3889-50b0-bbfe-a951731d31dd.html