Committee hears childcare arithmetic: rising costs, pilots for nontraditional hours and continued assistance

Jessica Thomason, executive director of the Human Services Division at HHS, told the appropriations committee that childcare costs have risen sharply in recent years and that affordability remains a major factor in workforce participation.

Thomason said North Dakota’s population growth and labor dynamics influence childcare demand and affordability. "If you have young kids, childcare is not a slice of that pie — and it's a big slice," she said, illustrating how childcare can consume a sizable portion of household budgets.

Why it matters: Childcare affordability affects whether parents take or keep jobs. Appropriators must weigh investments in the childcare assistance program, provider supports and one‑time grants as part of workforce and economic strategies.

Ke…