Ohio Child Care Capacity Has Declined

New data shows that staffing shortages have left three-quarters of state facilities operating under capacity.

Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Child Care

Bold vector editorial illustration of a single wooden toy block, representing the challenges in child care capacity. — Policy Matters Ohio reports that staffing shortages have forced Ohio child care centers to leave over 124,000 slots unfilled since 2019. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Policy Matters Ohio reported that the state's child care workforce has shrunk by nearly 40% since 2019. Consequently, centers are unable to fill 124,876 potential slots due to persistent staffing challenges.

Why it matters

The findings highlight a deepening crisis in the accessibility of early childhood education across Ohio. Low wages for workers continue to limit the availability of care for families throughout the state.

The typical child care worker in Ohio earns $14.27 per hour. Three-quarters of centers report operating below capacity as the industry workforce remains 40% smaller than it was in 2019.

The players

Policy Matters Ohio

This is a non-profit policy research institute based in Columbus that analyzes economic and social issues impacting state residents.

The details

Policy Matters Ohio published the data in a report titled Saturday Stats, which also noted that Ohio experienced the fourth-largest median wage decline among U.S. states between 2024 and 2025. The report contrasts these labor trends with state tax data, noting that the top 1% of Ohio households received 61% of state capital gains.

The child care workforce began its decline in 2019.
State median wages declined between 2024 and 2025.
Policy Matters Ohio published the data report on September 18, 2026.

Culture Shift

This report follows a pattern established by the 2024-2025 Ohio median wage decline trend. It illustrates how broader economic conditions and stagnant wage growth contribute to the shrinking availability of essential services.

Parents may face ongoing difficulty securing consistent child care slots due to persistent staffing shortages at local centers. Families should prepare for limited availability and potential long-term competition for existing openings.

The takeaway

The sustained contraction of the child care workforce creates a bottleneck for working parents across the state. Families should explore alternative care arrangements early to mitigate the impact of reduced center capacities.