KinderCare Study: 30-Point Gap Between Parents' Child Care Needs and Employer Support

79% of working parents say they would be more loyal to their employer if it provided stronger support for their needs as parents.

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New findings highlight disconnect between working parents’ child care needs and employer benefits as families prepare for the holidays

Key takeaways

• Study core finding: According to the 2026 KinderCare Confidence Index, conducted with The Harris Poll, 68% of parents want on-demand or emergency child care, but only 38% report that their employers offer it, a 30-percentage-point gap.
• Why it matters: 81% of parents are constantly thinking about potential child care disruptions, and unreliable care affects employment: 50% have missed work, 35% have reduced their hours, and two-thirds say it has negatively affected their work performance.
• Employer opportunity: Parents also want broader child care options and subsidies than employers currently provide. KinderCare helps more than 700 organizations address these needs through backup care, tuition benefits, on-site and near-site care, and before- and after-school programs.

LAKE OSWEGO, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- As families prepare for the busy holiday season, parents are preparing to navigate the annual challenge of balancing professional responsibilities with gaps in their children's school and child care schedules. New findings from KinderCare Learning Companies, Inc. (NYSE: KLC) ("KinderCare"), a leading provider of high-quality early childhood education and care, reveal a significant disconnect between the flexible child care support parents need and the benefits their employers currently provide.

According to the seventh annual KinderCare Confidence Index, conducted with The Harris Poll, 68% of parents want access to on-demand or emergency child care, yet only 38% report that their employers offer it. This 30-percentage-point gap underscores a broader challenge for working families, particularly during the holiday season, when school closures, modified schedules and unexpected disruptions make reliable child care difficult to coordinate.

The findings highlight an opportunity for employers to better support working parents through flexible child care benefits that help families navigate both everyday responsibilities and unexpected changes in care.

Holiday Schedule Disruptions Put Additional Pressure on Working Parents

While many schools and child care programs close for the holidays, or operate on reduced hours, many working parents must continue on their regular workplace schedules. This creates added pressure on families during an already busy and stressful time of year.

KinderCare's research reveals that parents are looking to their employers for greater flexibility and support to navigate these competing demands:

• 68% want on-demand or emergency child care, but only 38% report that their employers offer it
• 53% want access to a variety of child care options, compared with only 20% who say their employers provide them
• 58% want employer-subsidized child care, yet just 25% report that this benefit is available to them

The gaps extend beyond the holiday season. KinderCare's research found that 81% of parents are constantly thinking about potential disruptions in child care, while more than a quarter of working parents report having no backup or emergency care option if their primary arrangement falls through.

For families navigating school breaks and changes to their normal routines, access to reliable, flexible child care can help alleviate stress and provide greater peace of mind.

“Parents shouldn't have to choose between showing up for their families and meeting their responsibilities at work. The holidays bring the need for flexible child care into sharper focus, but this is a challenge working parents face during out-of-school time gaps year-round,” said Dan Figurski, president of KinderCare for Employers and Champions. “Employers have a meaningful opportunity to ease that pressure by offering benefits that give families reliable options when their regular care arrangements aren't available.”

Closing the Child Care Gap Is a Business Imperative

The impact of unreliable child care reaches well beyond the home. KinderCare's research found that 50% of working parents missed work due to child care challenges, while 35% reduced their hours. Additionally, two-thirds of parents report that unreliable child care has negatively affected their work performance.

These challenges can become particularly pronounced during the holidays, when families may need to manage school closures, planned time off and changing family schedules alongside year-end workplace demands.

For employers, expanding access to child care benefits presents an opportunity to better support employees while helping strengthen productivity, engagement and retention. In fact, 79% of working parents say they would be more loyal to their company if their employer provided stronger support for their needs as parents.

As organizations evaluate their benefits strategies and prepare for the year ahead, flexible child care solutions can play an important role in helping working parents remain engaged in their careers.

Supporting Working Families Through the Holidays and Beyond

KinderCare's research underscores the growing need for flexible, affordable child care solutions that help working parents balance their careers and family responsibilities. KinderCare partners with more than 700 organizations nationwide to help families navigate the schedule challenges with customizable child care benefits, including on-site and near-site child care centers, tuition benefits, backup care and before- and after-school programs.

These solutions help employers close critical child care gaps, support employees through planned and unexpected disruptions, and build a more productive, engaged and loyal workforce during the holidays and year-round.

To download the full 2026 KinderCare Confidence Index, click here. To learn more about KinderCare's flexible child care solutions for employers, visit KinderCare.com/employer-sponsored-child-care.

About KinderCare Learning Companies™

KinderCare Learning Companies, Inc. (NYSE: KLC) is a leading private provider of early childhood and school-age education and care. KinderCare builds confidence for life in children and families from all backgrounds. KinderCare supports hardworking families in 42 states and the District of Columbia with differentiated flexible child care solutions through its portfolio of brands and services:

• KinderCare^® Learning Centers: early learning programs for children six weeks to 12 years old;
• The Crème School^®: a premium early education experience using a variety of enrichment classrooms;
• Champions^®: before- and after-school programs in local schools, and
• Customized child care benefits created in partnership with employers, including child care on or near the site where their parents work, as well as tuition benefits and backup care across all our programs.

Headquartered in Lake Oswego, Oregon, KinderCare operates more than 2,700 early learning centers and sites.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261029537862/en/

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Source: KinderCare