KANSAS CITY, Mo., June 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — A new national survey commissioned by research firm United WE Today, the National Association of Women Business Owners (NowoboAccording to a Washington, D.C. study, 62 percent of women entrepreneurs say child care options don’t meet their needs, negatively impacting their business. In the survey of 750 women entrepreneurs with children under the age of 6, the majority (57 percent) said their business would be more successful if they had better child care options.
“For years, women entrepreneurs have taken big steps towards starting their own businesses by calling for more flexible childcare options,” Wendy Doyle, President and CEO of United WEa nonpartisan organization whose mission is to advance the economic and social leadership of all women, said, “Today, the growth of female entrepreneurs is hindered by a lack of child care options, in part due to the critical needs of the child care workforce itself.”
Women have a huge influence as driving forces in the U.S. economy. 2024 Wells Fargo ReportWomen-owned businesses represent more than 14 million, or 39.1 percent, of all businesses, employ 12.2 million workers, and generate $2.7 trillion in revenue, continuing to have a positive impact on the economy.
“Childcare must be considered a business support function, just like other essential business functions like accounting, software and internet services,” says Jen Earle, CEO of NAWBO National. “To increase economic growth for women business owners, we need to change how we think about childcare.”
Of the women surveyed, 66% started their own businesses to gain greater childcare flexibility. Women entrepreneurs with household incomes under $100,000 are significantly more likely than women entrepreneurs from higher-income households to say the flexibility that starting a business provides was a very important reason for their decision to start a business.
When asked about their specific child care needs, 31 percent of women said flexible child care schedules were their primary need. Second (29 percent) was child care for infants and toddlers, and third (27 percent) was early morning and late night care.
“This data shows the importance of flexible childcare infrastructure to help women entrepreneurs grow their businesses.” DeAngela Barnes Wallace, president and CEO of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation; “By creating more flexible options for child care, women entrepreneurs can achieve increased economic growth with the confidence that their children are receiving the best possible care,” said the women entrepreneurs who funded the research.
In a nationwide survey, Open Fieldteeth, United WE Institute And available Click here for details.
About United WE
United Women’s Empowerment (United WE) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance the economic and civic leadership of all women. Since 1991, United WE has been overcoming systemic barriers to women’s economic advancement and civic leadership by investing in research, advocacy, and policy solutions. We have conducted more than 30 meaningful research studies, advocated for issues that have led to 57 policy actions, and supported more than 200 civic appointments. Our work positively impacts hundreds of thousands of women and families through commissioning transformative research, expanding our fast-growing Appointments Project®, advocating for reforms that honor women’s legacies, and contributing to policy solutions that advance affordable child care, equal pay, paid family leave, and occupational licensing reform. Join us in unity. Click here for details Connect with us @UnitedWeEmpower Facebook, twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.
