JACKSON, Miss. (September 17, 2025) – The Children’s Foundation of Mississippi and the Mississippi Economic Council have launched a new online dashboard that maps childcare shortages straining Mississippi families and employers.
This new online portal, developed with Elucidata LLC, aims to give business leaders, parents, and policymakers clearer insight into how childcare access affects Mississippi’s workforce. The dashboard is available at childrensfoundationms.org/cc-econ-dashboard and will be updated monthly.
Mississippi has about 1,400 licensed childcare centers and more than 170,000 children under age 5. Current childcare capacity meets the needs of only 67% of those children, with infant care in especially short supply.
A survey of more than 130 Mississippi business leaders found that access to childcare directly influences employee productivity. Cost was the most common reason companies do not offer on-site or nearby childcare, but 71% of respondents expressed interest in learning more about those options.
Earlier research by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation estimated that childcare challenges cost Mississippi $673 million each year, including $120 million in lost tax revenue and $553 million from employee absences and turnover.
“We continue to see childcare as a barrier to entering into the workforce for many parents,” said Scott Waller, President & CEO of the Mississippi Economic Council. “The Chamber report also pointed out that many parents are unable to complete educational and workforce training programs due to childcare issues.”
Linda Southward, Executive Director of the Children’s Foundation of Mississippi, noted, “These survey findings and resultant online mapping portal can be a planning tool for parents, businesses, and community leaders to learn more about the landscape and availability of childcare and workforce within their county.”
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ABOUT:
CHILDREN’S FOUNDATION OF MISSISSIPPI
The Children’s Foundation of Mississippi (CFM) is focused on improving the policies and systems that affect the well-being of children in our state. We were founded in 2019 to serve as a convener, facilitator, advocate, and catalyst for positive change. In addition to signature initiatives, the Children’s Foundation of Mississippi is the home of Mississippi KIDS COUNT, the premier data resource for child well-being in the state of Mississippi. For more information, please visit childrensfoundationms.org.
ELUCIDATA, LLC
Elucidata is a team of data scientists, researchers, and communications experts. Elucidata partners with organizations to write winning grant proposals, create robust evaluation strategies, innovate complex data systems, and design compelling reports for funders & external audiences. For more information, please visit elucidatasolutions.com.
MISSISSIPPI ECONOMIC COUNCIL
About MEC: The Mississippi Economic Council – the State Chamber of Commerce – has been the voice of Mississippi business since 1949. MEC deals with broad business issues through advocacy, research, resources and leadership. To learn more visit www.mec.ms.
Funding for this project was provided by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, via the Mississippi Alliance of Nonprofits and Philanthropy.