New Study Highlights Child Care Costs in Hamilton County

A new study from Chattanooga 2.0 is highlighting growing challenges for families and providers in Hamilton County’s child care system.

The report finds there are about 27,000 children under age six in the county, but only enough child care slots for about one in three. That leaves more than 8,000 children in working households without reliable care.

“There is currently a waitlist for families to receive the state certificate, and that’s causing a financial burden on local childcare providers,” said Jennifer Andrews with Chattanooga 2.0. “We’ve had many who have had to close their doors.”

The study also shows it can cost providers up to 2,000 dollars a month per child, while wages for child care workers average around 15 dollars an hour.

“Many of our childcare providers locally actually do have higher education and college degrees, and yet the average wage is 15 dollars and 31 cents an hour,” Andrews said.

The report says staffing shortages and rising costs continue to limit access, even as demand for child care remains high.