Cuesta College and its regional partners contracted BW Research Partnership to develop an assessment on the economic impact of child care in the San Luis Obispo County, California. The study evaluated licensed child care programs and how volatile periods such as the COVID-19 pandemic brought barriers to child care quality, accessibility, and affordability.
The economic study highlighted key findings, including that child care workers earn about 71% of the living wage in the county, making the industry low-compensated for residents. Additionally, child care costs create constraints for local families, with annual costs averaging $10,000 per child. The report serves as a compass on how San Luis Obispo County can expand child care access while balancing affordability pressures and regional economic growth.
Download the full report to explore detailed economic projections, key recommendations, and learn more about the methodology utilized for this assessment.
