An Important Interview about Childcare and Workforce in Iowa

Access to quality child care is a critical workforce issue for Iowa. It has a profound impact on employers and employees alike—and a shortage of child care options in our state has only been exacerbated by the pandemic.

ABI has been advocating for child care solutions on behalf of members and their workforce by partnering on important research, hosting enlightening events to discuss challenges and solutions, lobbying at the Statehouse, and joining the Iowa Business and Child Care Coalition.

One of those partners is Julia Barfield, senior manager of policy and programs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation's Center for Education and Workforce. She was recently interviewed by Jeff Stein of the Iowa Business Report about how access to affordable child care is a key element in developing and growing workforce in Iowa and across the country.

It’s an important discussion, and I encourage you to listen to the 13-minute episode. In it, Barfield shares discussions employers and employees should be having right now, as well as helpful resources for your team.

Special thanks to Jeff Stein for letting us share the podcast with you. And thank you to Julia Barfield for recognizing ABI for “doing great work in raising up this issue” during the episode.

Also, keep an eye out for the February issue of ABI’s news magazine, Business Record Iowa, which comes out on the 12^th. The cover story is about how members are innovating to tackle Iowa’s child care challenges.