PA Chamber to Lawmakers: Approach Childcare as a Workforce Issue

The PA Chamber continued its push for comprehensive childcare reform last week, telling state lawmakers Friday that Pennsylvania must treat childcare as a core workforce issue, not just a matter of funding or social policy.

Testifying before the House Republican Policy Committee, PA Chamber Manager of Government Affairs Aaron Riggleman argued that the conversation around childcare must broaden beyond funding models to include a focus on the operational pressures that make it difficult for providers to open, expand, or stay in business.

He said childcare providers face many of the same challenges as small businesses across the Commonwealth. These challenges include staffing shortages, regulatory hurdles, and rising insurance costs. Collectively, these are limiting families’ access to care and Pennsylvania’s economic potential.

“The issues confronting childcare providers, from staffing shortages and regulatory hurdles to skyrocketing insurance costs, mirror many of the broader challenges faced by small businesses across the Commonwealth,” Riggleman said.

Earlier this year, the PA Chamber released a childcare policy agenda outlining specific reforms to help stabilize the sector and improve workforce participation. The recommendations were developed with input from employers, providers, advocates, and local chambers across the state. Key proposals include:

• Support staffing efforts by re-evaluating qualification rules, recognizing relevant experience, and creating pathways for retired educators and future teachers to enter the workforce.
• Reduce administrative burdens by streamlining permitting and licensing, improving regulatory clarity, and ensuring providers are involved early in rulemaking processes.
• Combat rising liability insurance costs through targeted legal reforms that address venue shopping and excessive litigation risk.

Riggleman also cited data from the PA Chamber and the U.S. Chamber Foundation estimating that Pennsylvania loses $3.47 billion each year due to childcare-related disruptions, including $2.88 billion in lost productivity for employers and $591 million in forgone tax revenue.

“Pennsylvania’s workforce challenges are complex and interconnected, and while no single policy solution will resolve them, improving access to affordable, reliable childcare must be a core part of any serious workforce strategy,” Riggleman said.

He concluded by urging lawmakers to stay engaged with providers, employers, and community leaders to pursue practical reforms that will strengthen the childcare sector and, in turn, the state’s workforce.