Texas' rapidly growing and increasingly female labor force requires childcare systems that are robust, accessible and affordable, according to the Texas Women's Foundation's (TXWF) latest white paper, "Addressing the Texas Childcare Crisis." Published in partnership with Every Texan, this research report is a follow-on to TXWF's 2024 Economic Issues for Women in Texas Report.
"Addressing the Texas Childcare Crisis" explores and quantifies a crisis charaterized by gaps in access and affordability and its impact on the state's economy, with a spotlight on Dallas County as a bellwether for the issue.
Karen Hughes White, TXWF president and CEO, said “The takeaway from this research is clear: Strong childcare systems provide essential economic infrastructure allowing women to participate fully, consistently and productively in the workforce, stabilizing household earnings and supporting long-term economic growth.”
She added, “Women represent 46% of the Texas workforce and that number is growing. Based on population projections, women will outnumber men in Texas as early as 2040, meaning our $2.9 trillion Texas* economy is increasingly dependent on women. Access to affordable childcare and out-of-school care is imperative to creating a strong and vibrant Texas for all, while ensuring the economic security, stability and success of Texas women, their families and their futures.” (*https://gov.texas.gov/top-texas-touts-economy)
KEY FINDINGS
Affordability:
- Center-based infant care in Texas costs more than $11,000 annually on average. In Dallas County, this represents 12.5% of the median family income.
- For a Texas family with an infant and a four-year old, the annual cost of center-based childcare is significantly higher than the estimated cost of housing.
- A minimum wage worker in Texas would have to work full-time for 37 weeks just to afford care for one infant.
Access:
- Over half of Texas counties are considered childcare deserts, where there are three or more children for each available licensed childcare center opening.
- An estimated 111,490 Texas children lack access to care within a reasonable driving distance – a 7.9 percent average access gap that grows to 12.8 percent in rural areas.
- In Dallas County, approximately 43,400 mothers with young children remain outside of the labor force due in large part to the lack of accessible – and affordable – childcare.
Economic Impact:
- Based on average annual earnings, Dallas County families forego $1.63 billion in direct earnings due to the lack of affordable childcare.
- This earnings loss corresponds to approximately $3.19 billion in annual Gross Regional Product (GRP) losses for the county.
- If left unaddressed, the cumulative, long-term economic losses for Dallas County and the state over the next 10 years are staggering:
- Dallas County - estimated $562 million-$859 million
- Statewide - estimated $5.5 billion-$8.3 billion
Investing for Change:
- Evidence presented in the report suggests that sustained, local, coordinated investment in childcare is necessary to reduce labor force constraints and strengthen regional and statewide economic resilience.
- Modeled outcomes in Dallas County have shown that an investment in childcare of $100 per family per month would allow approximately 1,700 mothers to work and earn approximately $65 million annually. With a $400 monthly investment, those numbers would increase to 6,900 mothers working and earning $260 million annually.
- In 2025-26 alone, Texas Women’s Foundation has invested more than $250,000 to address childcare access and affordability in Dallas County and beyond. Learn more about our Childcare Access Fund HERE.
To read TXWF’s full white paper, "Addressing the Texas Childcare Crisis," visit
txwf.org/research.
Policy Recommendations and Call to Action:
- Policymakers should prioritize investments in childcare and out-of-school time (OST) as core economic infrastructure to shape and build labor force participation, business productivity, and economic performance.
- Sustained, coordinated investment in childcare and OST should be pursued to reduce labor force constraint, support women’s continued participation in the labor market, and strengthen regional economic resilience.
- Counties and municipalities are well positioned to address place-based gaps in care availability and to coordinate care with housing, transportation, and workforce development.
- Texas Women’s Foundation has established the Childcare Access Fund to make targeted investments in access and affordability. Donors are encouraged to support this fund by visiting https://www.txwf.co/donate.
- To schedule a presentation of these results for corporate, civic and community groups, contact TXWF Director of Community Engagement Chandra Matthews at cmatthews@txwf.org.
Taking Action in Dallas County:
In late May, TXWF joined forces with a coalition of local business, civic, and community leaders** to announce the Dallas Child Care Works initiative to urge Dallas County commissioners to add a proposed, modest property tax increase to the November 2026 ballot. If approved by voters, the proposal would levy an additional 3 cents per $100 of assessed property value – approximately $10 per homeowner per month, to generate $132 million annually for childcare scholarships and key infrastructure investments. Similar ballot measures have been successful in Travis and Harris Counties in recent years.
To learn more about Child Care Works, email info@earlymattersdallas.org.
**The Child Care Works coalition includes ChildCareGroup, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, North Texas Early Education Alliance, Dallas Area Interfaith, North Dallas Chamber of Commerce and Early Matters Dallas.
About Texas Women’s Foundation:
Texas Women’s Foundation (TXWF) raises funds from a broad base of donors, including individuals, foundations and corporations. These resources support nearly $5 million in investments each year to help eliminate the barriers to women’s economic security, stability and success through targeted research and advocacy, intentional grantmaking and leadership programs. Since its inception in 1985, TXWF has invested nearly $90 million in grantmaking in support of Texas women, their families and their futures, and another $25 million in research, advocacy and educational programs for a total impact of $115 million over the last 40 years. As TXWF prepares for its next 40 years, the organization’s vision for a strong and vibrant Texas for all will remain at the forefront of its work.
TXWF’s targeted research into the issues impacting the economic security of Texas women and families will continue to guide its work. The biannual “Economic Issues for Women in Texas Report” provides corporate and community leaders, and state and local lawmakers with critical data to inform policies, practices and programs across the state. In addition, Texas Women’s Foundation is an acknowledged leader and advocate in the mission-aligned investing movement, deploying 100 percent of its invested assets – endowments, operating investments and donor-advised funds – in a values-based portfolio that yields strong financial returns and social benefits that align with its mission. For more information, visit www.txwf.org, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram or donate now.