Perceptions of Childcare in Nonmetropolitan Nebraska

Authors

Rebecca J. Vogt, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Heather Akin, University of Nebraska–LincolnFollow
Cheryl A. Burkhart-Kriesel, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Bradley D. Lubben, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
L. J. McElravy, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Timothy Meyer, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow
Steven A. Schulz, University of Nebraska at OmahaFollow

Date of this Version

11-2023

Document Type

Report

Citation

Nebraska Rural Poll Research Report 23-3, November 2023

Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

rurallpoll.unl.edu

Abstract

Lack of childcare is an issue in many rural Nebraska communities. According to a report from Voices for Children, most counties in the state (91%) do not have enough available licensed childcare slots to meet the current demand there. Furthermore, 11 counties in the state have no licensed childcare facilities. Many communities are exploring options of how to address these shortages to maintain their current residents or to be able to attract new residents. Given these challenges, what types of childcare are rural Nebraskans currently using? How far do they drive to get to their childcare? And how do rural Nebraskans feel about the childcare issues in their community? This paper provides a detailed analysis of these questions.

This report details 1,100 responses to the 2023 Nebraska Rural Poll, the 28th annual effort to understand rural Nebraskans’ perceptions. Respondents were asked a series of questions about childcare. Comparisons are also made among different respondent subgroups, that is, comparisons by age, occupation, region, etc. Based on these analyses, some key findings emerged:

- Most rural Nebraskans with children under the age of 12 are not currently using childcare. Almost six in ten respondents with young children are not currently using childcare. Almost one-third (32%) are currently using full-time childcare (32 or more hours a week).

✓ Persons living in or near the smallest communities are more likely than persons living in or near larger communities to use part-time childcare. Almost two in ten persons living in or near communities with populations under 500 are using part-time childcare, compared to only three percent of persons living in or near the largest communities. Persons living in or near both the smallest and largest communities are the groups most likely to use before and/or after school care.

- Most rural Nebraskans that use childcare most frequently use a childcare center or school. Almost six in ten respondents using childcare are using a childcare center or school (58%). Just over four in ten respondents use a home-based childcare provider.

✓ Persons living in or near communities with populations ranging from 500 to 999 are more likely than persons living in or near both smaller and larger communities to use a home-based childcare provider. Persons living in or near the largest communities are the group most likely to use a childcare center or school.

- Most rural Nebraskans drive less than 10 miles to get to their childcare. Just under one-half (48%) drive between one and ten miles and just over three in ten (31%) drive less than a mile.

- Most rural Nebraskans recognize the importance of childcare for the growth of their community and think it should be a high priority. At least three-quarters of rural Nebraskans agree or strongly agree that increasing access to both high quality and affordable childcare should be a high priority for their community. Just over eight in ten (81%) agree or strongly agree that high quality affordable childcare is important to the growth of their community.

- Most rural Nebraskans agree that inadequate or unreliable childcare options cause work disruptions in their community. Just over seven in ten agree or strongly agree with that statement.

- Opinions are mixed on whether it is affordable for a parent in their profession to use childcare. Just over one-third (36%) disagree with that statement, while just under three in ten agree.

✓ Persons with construction, installation, or maintenance occupations are more likely than persons with different occupations to disagree that it is affordable for a parent working in their profession to use childcare. Just over two-thirds of persons working in these occupations disagree with that statement, compared to 16 percent of persons with occupations in agriculture.

- Most rural Nebraskans agree there is a shortage of affordable childcare options in their community. Just over six in ten (61%) agree with that statement.

✓ Residents of the North Central region are more likely than residents of other regions of the state to agree that there is a shortage of affordable childcare options in their community. Almost three-quarters of residents of this region (73%) agree with that statement, compared to just over one-half of the residents of the Southeast region (51%).

- Most rural Nebraskans agree that their community needs more before and after school childcare options. Almost six in ten (59%) agree with that statement.

- Most rural Nebraskans believe the community should invest public resources to support the availability of childcare in the community. Almost six in ten agree or strongly agree with that statement.

✓ Persons living in or near larger communities are more likely than persons living in or near smaller communities to agree that their community should invest public resources to support the availability of childcare in the community. At least six in ten persons living in or near communities with populations of 1,000 or more agree with this statement, compared to less than four in ten persons living in or near communities with populations ranging from 500 to 999.