In North Texas, economic opportunity depends on whether families can work. And for thousands of parents in North Texas, the ability to work comes down to one thing: childcare. 

A new report from Texas Women’s Foundation, “Addressing the Texas Childcare Crisis,” confirms what United Way of Metropolitan Dallas sees every day—our childcare system isn’t meeting the needs of working families, and it’s holding back our entire regional economy. 

We know that access to affordable childcare is foundational for local families, supporting all three of our focus areas: education, income and health. By ensuring that all parents can afford childcare, we move closer to our Aspire United 2030 goals by enabling more workers to advance at work, more children to succeed in school and more families to afford quality healthcare.  

The Reality: Childcare Costs Are Outpacing North Texas Families 

Childcare is now one of the largest expenses facing North Texas families: 

• Infant care exceeds $11,000 per year in Texas—nearly as much as in-state college tuition. 

• Care for two young children costs more than $20,000 annually—higher than the average annual cost of housing. 

• A minimum-wage worker must work 37 weeks full time to afford care for one infant. 

• The state’s childcare subsidy system has a 12- to 18-month waitlist—which is longer than most working families can wait. 

This is not sustainable. And for many families, the cost of childcare makes work impossible. 

Childcare and the Summer Squeeze 

Unfortunately, the pressure on local families doesn’t ease when the school year ends—it intensifies. Summer break and out-of-school hours leave working parents scrambling to find safe, enriching places for their kids while they’re on the job. Affordable out-of-school and summer childcare in Dallas keeps children supported year-round and keeps parents working. 

The Impact: A Shrinking Workforce and Lost Growth in Dallas County 

When childcare isn’t available or affordable, parents—especially mothers—are pushed out of the workforce to stay home with their child. 

In Dallas County: 

• 43,000 mothers with young children are not working due to childcare barriers. 

• Local parents lose $1.63 billion in earnings each year. 

• The total economic impact reaches $3.19 billion in lost output annually. 

For North Texas employers, that means a smaller pipeline of talented workers, higher turnover and slower growth. For our region, it means missed economic potential at a critical moment. 

The Opportunity: Invest Locally, Grow Regionally 

The data is clear: Lowering childcare costs would bring 1,700 to 6,900 mothers back into the workforce, generating up to $260 million in annual earnings in Dallas County alone. 

Childcare isn’t just an affordability issue—it’s workforce infrastructure. Companies lose out on talent and productivity when parents can’t stay in the workforce. And because childcare hits families so hard financially, it’s an issue that has an impact on every area of our neighbors’ lives. 

When our community invests in families by expanding access to childcare, kids are more likely to be college and career ready. Working parents—and particularly working moms—can keep building their careers and stabilizing their family income, which in turn supports good health for them and their children. Meanwhile, employers experience less costly turnover that hurts the local economy we all rely on.  

“Time and time again, the data bears this out,” said Hillary Evans, vice president of policy and advocacy at United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and part of the Dallas Childcare Works coalition. “We know childcare works for families who have it. Now we just have to do our part to invest in it.” 

A Defining Moment for Dallas County 

United Way of Metropolitan Dallas is proud to stand alongside families, providers, employers and community leaders as part of Dallas Childcare Works—a coalition working to expand access to affordable childcare and out-of-school programs across the county. Dallas County leaders are currently considering whether to give voters the opportunity to weigh in this November. 

It’s a pragmatic, locally driven response to a regional challenge—one that aligns families, businesses and communities around a shared goal: a stronger North Texas economy. 

To follow the coalition’s work, visit the Dallas Childcare Works website. And to learn how United Way is supporting early childhood education in North Texas, explore our work.