The article referenced in this blog post is available to read here on the Crain’s Detroit website.
What We Are Reading: Low labor force participation rate? New Crain’s Detroit article points to high childcare costs
Talent 2025 has already written about the labor force participation rate in this blog, and the topic isn’t likely to go away. While many of the fundamentals of the nation’s, and indeed West Michigan’s, economy are sound, breaking down barriers to allow greater access to employment will be one of the next big challenges for our region.
Senior reporter Dustin Walsh looks at a signifcant barrier to employment
Citing Michigan as the “12th least-affordable state for infant care”, Walsh looks at participation rate trends of prime working age women in Michigan (ages 25-54). While many other publications are focusing on falling rates of prime working age men across the country (who have their own barriers), Walsh points to the over 300,000 women who have dropped out of the workforce in this age cohort from 2001 to 2016.
Want to learn more?
Please read the rest of the Crain’s article for more insightful analysis on the state of labor force participation by women and how it can be impacted by lack of affordable childcare.
