Chamber Report Highlights Child Care's Economic Impact

New analysis finds inadequate child care costs Omaha region over $1 billion annually

Apr. 5, 2026 at 5:35pm

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The Greater Omaha Chamber released a comprehensive report examining how child care availability directly affects workforce participation and economic growth across the region. The report finds that inadequate child care has a significant economic impact, including an estimated $1.02 billion in lost business output, $919.2 million in lost labor income, and nearly 3,909 fewer jobs annually due to workforce disruptions.

Why it matters

Access to affordable, reliable child care is a critical factor enabling parents to participate in the workforce and supporting businesses' ability to attract and retain talent. This report underscores the economic importance of addressing child care challenges in the Omaha region.

The details

The report, commissioned with First Five Nebraska, analyzes the relationship between child care access, affordability, and workforce dynamics across the Chamber's eight-county, two-state region. It identifies a gap between supply and demand, with approximately 4,730 more children needing care than available licensed child care slots. Parents report difficulty accessing affordable care, with costs averaging $13,000 annually per child, while employers cite child care access as a barrier to hiring and workforce stability.

  • The Greater Omaha Chamber released the report on April 5, 2026.

The players

Greater Omaha Chamber

A regional business organization that advocates for economic growth and development in the Omaha metropolitan area.

First Five Nebraska

A nonprofit organization focused on early childhood education and care policy in Nebraska.

Heath Mello

President and CEO of the Greater Omaha Chamber.

Jason Prokop

Co-president of Early Futures Partnership, a local early childhood education advocacy group.

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What they’re saying

“Across our ongoing engagement with employers, the Greater Omaha Chamber consistently hears that workforce availability remains a primary factor influencing business growth, expansion and retention decisions.”

— Heath Mello, President & CEO, Greater Omaha Chamber

“This report clearly illustrates the enormous economic impact of child care in the Greater Omaha area. It further reinforces the need for child care assistance for low-income families to ensure they can participate in the labor market and meet the workforce needs of our businesses.”

— Jason Prokop, Co-president, Early Futures Partnership

What’s next

The Chamber plans to use the report's findings to support ongoing conversations with employers, policymakers, and community leaders about strengthening child care assistance policies, expanding employer-supported child care solutions, and increasing coordination to improve access and affordability.

The takeaway

This report underscores the critical role that access to affordable, reliable child care plays in enabling workforce participation and supporting economic growth in the Omaha region. Addressing child care challenges will require collaboration between businesses, government, and community partners to ensure working families have the support they need.