“We need affordable, high-quality childcare more than ever. It’s not a nice-to-have — it’s a must-have. It’s time we stop treating childcare as a side issue, or a women’s issue, and treat it like the national economic priority that it is for all of us.”
This was among the first assertions the American president made in his penultimate State of the Union address in Washington earlier today. He went on to refer to childcare another five times.
That the importance of childcare was raised at all, and that it was raised so early, in what is considered to be one of the most significant speeches in America’s political calendar, is important in itself. Of course, Obama’s comments also make for a welcome contrast to the commentary offered by our own
The fact is childcare is effectively relegated as a peripheral issue, for mums only, in far too many countries, Australia included. But this characterisation doesn’t fit. Particularly not in countries like America and Australia in which females are educated so well, yet their workforce participation rate is disproportionately low.
Childcare is not a luxury or discretionary item for “mums” to mull over; as Obama pointed out “In today’s economy…having both parents in the workforce is an economic necessity for many families”.
Good quality childcare is a powerful lever in lifting national productivity as it enables more parents (mums and dads) to work. It also reaps non-financial rewards for families and children.
So why is it not treated as an economic priority? It is incomprehensible for anyone who is even vaguely familiar with the research to consider, which is why it’s significant that Barack Obama raised the issue. The truth is it’s an area that is ripe for change that continues to limit families.
Along with sick leave, equal pay and a higher minimum wage Obama says these types of reform can “make a meaningful difference to the lives of families. That’s a fact.”
The other fact is it can make a meaningful difference to entire nations. What are we waiting for?