SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO.com) — A new study says child care in Sioux Falls is “expensive and inaccessible” for many families.
The report, which Augustana University conducted at the request of Sioux Falls Thrive, found the cost of childcare for one child, birth to age five, is close to $10,000 per year. The median worker in Sioux Falls makes $39,000 per year.
On top of that, staffing shortages at child care facilities can prevent them from expanding and taking in new kids, making child care less accessible. The study says 913 families are on waiting lists for openings for their children.
It’s difficult for child care providers to make their services more affordable, since many run with tight margins or even at a deficit, according to the study. The average childcare professional earns $22,000 per year.
“It’s a vicious cycle,” Rebecca Wimmer, CEO of Boys and Girls Clubs of the Sioux Empire, said in a release. “We want to be cautious about raising rates because we know that families can’t afford to pay more; but we lose staff because we can’t compete with retail businesses. We then reduce our capacity because we do not have enough staff, which leads to fewer families finding childcare and an increase in our annual deficit.”
Employers also rarely invest in their employees’ child care, with just 2% of South Dakota employers offering some type of childcare benefits, the study says.
