Shaping the Future
Share your voice on child care in Union County, OR
Summary
Union County is facing a child care crisis driven by limited availability and rising costs
Families in Union County are struggling to find child care that is affordable, reliable, and available when they need it. Limited space means families are on long waitlists, have limited choices, or few options at all. For working parents, the challenge is not simply finding care; it can mean turning down jobs, reducing hours, delaying education, or leaving the workforce altogether.
These individual impacts add up, affecting employers and the broader economy by limiting the workforce available to local businesses and reducing families’ ability to participate fully in the economy.
A survey was conducted between August 15, 2025 to October 15, 2025 focusing on the current state of child care for Union County residents as well as the needs that have gone unaddressed.
On this page, you will find:
The purpose of the study was to:
understand child care access and affordability in Union County
examine workforce impacts
identify unmet needs for families with children under five years old
inform county-level strategies to support economic mobility
Lack of access to childcare leads to:
limits in workforce participation
reduction to educational advancement
negative impacts to employers and the local economy
affects economic upward mobility for families
Why This Problem Matters
Figure 9. Demand for Additional Child Care Services
The survey results provide a clear picture of the demand for child care in Union County: A majority of families reported needing additional care during standard business hours, while nearly half of respondents indicated a need for evening and weekend coverage. Approximately one in five respondents reported having adequate child care.
Figure 18. Child Care Cost as Percentage of Household Income
Child care costs hit lower- and middle-income families harder.
Families earning between $30,000 and $75,000 a year are more likely to spend over 10% of their income on child care than families at other income levels. That's true even though most families, across all income levels, spend 10% or less.
So while spending a small share of income is common overall, it's the $30,000–$75,000 group that's most likely to feel a heavier squeeze.
Figure 10. Child Care Barriers to Education and Career Advancement
A majority of families said child care has affected their ability to move forward in their careers or education. In practical terms, this means missing out on opportunities such as taking a class, finishing a degree, accepting a promotion, or pursuing professional development because affordable, available child care was not an option.
Figure 13. Child Care Benefits by Industry
Participants reported child care benefits are uncommon across industries in Union County, as the figure shows, regardless of the type of work people do.
Figure 16. Left Employment Due to Child Care by Household Income
The figure below shows which age groups are most likely to leave a job because of child care challenges. The biggest takeaway is clear: working-age, mid-career adults are feeling the greatest impact, with child care challenges making it harder to stay in their jobs.
Key findings included:
Child care is a middle‑income issue in Union County.
Cost is a major barrier.
Access to child care options is limited.
Child care responsibilities cause significant education and career disruption.
Employers offer flexibility, but not child care specific-benefits
Balancing careers and family is a top priority for residents.
Improve workplace support and child care affordability.
Preserve existing child care and expand future capacity.
Promote direct investment in local child care infrastructure.
Collaborate with local support organizations.
Build pipeline between employers and working families
Create a child care endowment
Strengthen and expand local child care infrastructure
Recommendations
Conclusion
The findings of this report show that child care is not just a family issue, it is a workforce and economic issue that affects Union County’s future. Across income levels, the cost, availability, and reliability of child care influence decisions about work, education, and career advancement. These challenges also affect employers through worker shortages, turnover, and difficulty attracting and keeping employees.
Addressing these challenges will take cooperation among local government, employers, educators, child care providers, and community partners. Together, they can expand access to affordable, reliable care and strengthen the child care system for the long term.
Treating child care as essential community infrastructure can help Union County build a stronger future, one where families have more opportunities, employers can find and keep workers, and people can build their lives and careers here.
Download the complete study
Follow what’s happening
If child care is not something you deal with now, but you are interested in hearing more about this project and how it develops, please leave your contact information.
