DENVER — The rising cost of childcare in Colorado – and across the country – continues to put pressure on employers and employees alike.
Colorado ranks No. 9 in the country for highest child care costs. The weekly cost of daycare is $265.84 on average, or $13,823.43 a year, according to the 2024 Cost of Care Report by Care.com. In Colorado, the average annual cost for using a child care center was 15% of the state's median income, according to the latest income data from the U.S. Census Bureau.
While child care costs are high in Colorado, availability is also scarce. There are about 75,000 more kids under the age of 6 in Colorado than there are spots at licensed care facilities, according to an April 2023 report from the Bell Policy Center, a nonprofit focused on economic mobility.
A Denver Business Journal comparison of Colorado Department of Early Education licensing data and U.S. Census Bureau statistics suggests that number could be even higher: In the seven-county Denver metro area (Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas and Jefferson counties) alone, the market appears to be short by more than 77,000 spots.
More 9NEWS local news:
> Top stories from 9NEWS curated daily just for you! Sign up for the 9NEWSLETTER right now to get can’t-miss stories, Next and Broncos content, weather and more delivered right to your inbox.
SUGGESTED VIDEOS: Steve on Your Side
9NEWS+ has multiple live daily shows including 9NEWS Mornings, Next with Kyle Clark and The Culture Report, an original streaming program. 9NEWS+ is where you can watch live breaking news, weather updates and press conferences. You can also replay recent newscasts and find videos on demand of our top stories, local politics, investigations and Colorado specific features.
To download 9NEWS+ on Roku search for KUSA.
To download 9NEWS+ on Fire TV search for 9NEWS.
