Business Wire·Feb 19, 2026, 8:10 AM ET

Child Care Overtakes Retirement as a Top Workplace Benefit – But Employers Are Falling Behind, According to New KinderCare Research

New 2026 KinderCare Confidence Index data reveals child care has transitioned from a perk to a critical business imperative essential for productivity, retention, & loyalty.
85% of working parents believe child care benefits should be treated as essential, on par with healthcare & retirement benefits.
Unreliable child care is driving workforce attrition, with parents quitting jobs, reducing hours, or leaving the workforce entirely due to daycare challenges.
79% of working parents state they would be more loyal to their employer if the company provided better support for parenting needs.
Only one in three employers currently offer child care benefits, creating a gap between workforce needs & available support.
Three-quarters of parents know someone who has left the workforce due to child care issues, while over 25% have considered or actually quit their jobs for the same reason.
50% of parents report missing work, 35% report reducing hours, & significant percentages report workplace tension with managers or coworkers due to lack of reliable care.
81% of parents feel their employer does not fully understand that reliable child care is key to their productivity.
The survey was conducted online by The Harris Poll from November 5-13, 2025, among 2,509 US parents with children age 12 or younger.
KinderCare offers flexible solutions including on-site care, tuition benefits, & backup care to help employers close the child care gap.