Economics
U.K.’s Return to Work Risks Being Stumped by Childcare Closures
- A third of childcare centers say they may shut permanently
- Women to be hit more than men, reversing years of gender gains
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The U.K. government’s plan to get people back to work to fuel the economic recovery is under threat from a rising childcare problem.
Financial difficulties are putting the survival of many childcare facilities at risk, potentially forcing parents to drop out of the labor force to stay at home. Not only does that hit household incomes and consumer spending, it could also undo years of progress in getting more women into work -- with long-term consequences for growth.