“Massachusetts expanded its childcare system by 8,700 seats last year, fueling a continued recovery of the sector once battered by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to new figures released by the Healey administration Wednesday.
“The state noted that its now-permanent grants for childcare providers have increasingly funneled to workforce-related expenses and supported a 20 percent uptick in compensation for employees, many of whom earn poverty wages, since 2022. The system has also grown by 45,000 seats compared to the pandemic-low in spring 2021, and vacancies within the early education workforce have shrunk from 11 to 9 percent in the last year.”
“We are sending a message to programs about how important we recognize this funding is to maintain stability and make investments in quality and staff, and to mitigate increases in tuition for families,” said Early Education and Care Commissioner Amy Kershaw.
—Mass. childcare sector moving toward post-pandemic recovery, state says,†by Diti Kohli, The Boston Globe, February 12, 2025
“Governor Josh Shapiro and Secretary of Human Services Dr. Val Arkoosh visited CrossPoint Early Learning Center in Dauphin County to highlight the Governor’s 2025-26 proposed budget, which builds on his efforts to make childcare more affordable by expanding and strengthening the childcare workforce.”
“The 2025-26 budget proposal builds on Governor Shapiro’s first two budgets with a $55 million investment in workforce recruitment and retention grants to increase childcare availability and pay these dedicated workers more. These grants would provide an additional $1,000 annually per employee working in licensed childcare centers in the Child Care Works (CCW) Program.”
” ‘My budget proposal places a special emphasis on workforce development, addressing growing workforce shortages across several critical sectors, including childcare,’ said Governor Shapiro. “Right now, we have 3,000 unfilled jobs in childcare centers across Pennsylvania and when families can’t find safe, affordable childcare for their kids, it forces them out of our workforce and hurts our economy.”
— “Solving the Childcare Shortage: Governor Shapiro Highlights Proposal to Expand Pennsylvania’s Childcare Workforce, Support Parents and Families,” Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, February 6, 2025