Language
English (en)
Publication Date
1-28-2026
Summary
For parents in the United States, childcare costs are one of the largest expenses in the budget. This brief examines the childcare arrangements low-wage workers adopt, their difficulties in accessing and affording childcare, and the extent to which they utilize childcare benefits offered by their employers or the government. To do so, we use on data from the Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility (WEIM) survey of a nationally representative sample of low-wage U.S. workers. For these analyses, the sample includes only workers with children under the age of 6.
Document Type
Research Brief
Category
Financial Inclusion
Subarea
Income Policy
Original Citation
Kulkarni, A., Brugger, L., Roll, S., Zhang, G., & Despard, M. (2026). Examining patterns in childcare utilization for low-wage workers and their access to government and employer-based childcare supports (CSD Research Brief No. 26-03). Washington University, Center for Social Development.
Project
Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility (WEIM)
Keywords
Workforce Economic Inclusion and Mobility; childcare; United States; public benefits; employer benefits; working families;
Recommended Citation
Kulkarni, A., Brugger, L., Roll, S., Zhang, G., & Despard, M. (2026). Examining patterns in childcare utilization for low-wage workers and their access to government and employer-based childcare supports (CSD Research Brief No. 26-03). Washington University, Center for Social Development.