Child Care and the Labour Market

Our newest fact sheet demonstrates that child care, or the lack of it, plays a key role in Ontario's labour market stability and development. Canada's child care system is not keeping up to the record numbers of employed mothers. Furthermore, many women are employed part-time, seasonally or in shift work, yet there is little scheduling flexibility in the child care that is available. Child care is also essential for women as they look for work, upgrade skills, or volunteer to gain Canadian experience. >more

Policies that Support Working Mothers, Support the Economy

A recently released international study of women's levels of employment shows that increasing women's labour market participation boosts a country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The study demonstrates that greater public investment in high-quality child care results in more women working, and also encourages women to have more children. Other research demonstrates the long-term positive effect of quality child care on children themselves. The Organization of Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) recommends that Canada dramatically increase its investment in child care. >more

Home Child Care Provider Training Program (COSTI, Toronto)

For ten years, COSTI has trained immigrant women on running successful child care services from their own homes. This brief and practical course ensures caregivers understand regulations and laws related to child care; enhances their knowledge of child development, safety and health; and connects them to community resources. It also increases the options for working parents and the quality of care for local children. >more

MTCU Community Stakeholders Meetings
The Ministry is holding consultations with employment and training stakeholders across the province. ACTEW was invited to the June 14 meeting for the Central Region and reports on the common issues raised by local providers.
>more

Changes at MTCU
MTCU has reorganized into three divisions as well as formalizing links to the Ministry of Education and the Service Delivery Advisory Group (SDAG). The changes emerge out of greater provincial investment in labour market training and education, in part because of the LMDA.
>more on the MTCU changes
>more on the SDAG

Ottawa Region Looks at Labour Market Development
Diversity and employer involvement were key issues raised by the 60 stakeholders attending the Skills Training and Employment Programs Summit, hosted by ACTEW and the Ottawa Women's Training and Employment Network (OWTEN). >more

Facts

• Two-thirds of Canadian women with young children are employed. (1)

• One-quarter of Canadian children under the age of seven have access to a regulated child care space. (1)

• Only 22% of single parents are able to access Canada's complex child care subsidy systems. (1)

• Among low-income women of colour in Toronto, the lack of child care is cited as the greatest barrier to securing employment. (2)

(1) ACTEW, Child Care Fact Sheet , 2007.

(2) Punam Khosla, If Low Income Women of Colour Counted, 2003.

Questions

How can various levels of government and ministries related to child development and labour collaborate to ensure high-quality, affordable and flexible child care?

How can programs like COSTI's Home Child Care Provider Training be considered as models to address both women's employment and quality child care availability?

What are innovative ways of ensuring child care is not a barrier to access for women needing employment and training services?

Get Involved

2nd Annual Golden Horseshoe / Bi-Regional Networking Day

• ACTEW will lead the keynote workshop at this full-day event for frontline staff, managers and project officers on June 19. >more

ACTEW's June Members' Meeting: Thinking Holistically About Women's Work

• ACTEW members and colleagues are invited to a presentation by Sandra Tam on "provisioning" - a way of understanding young women's range of paid and unpaid work in households, communities and workplaces. >more

Visit our web site to learn more about
Putting Women in the Picture