06/03/2026
When we talk about workforce development, we have to talk about childcare.
Too many West Virginia families are struggling to find affordable, reliable care, while childcare providers face workforce shortages of their own. Because of this, parents are forced to make impossible choices about work, family, and opportunity.
Building a stronger workforce means investing in the systems that support it, and childcare is one of them.
West Virginia’s childcare system is under growing strain: The cost of care is more than many families can afford, the wages for childcare workers are inadequate and the number of spots for kids is shrinking. That's according to data collected through various sources.