Building the Workforce Starts in Early Childhood:
At a recent Flagstaff Chamber Talent & Education Committee meeting, First Things First shared an overview of how early childhood directly impacts our current and future workforce.
The first five years of life are a critical period for brain development, when foundational skills like problem-solving, communication, and self-regulation begin to take shape. These early experiences don’t just influence school readiness, they shape long-term success in education, employment, and overall well-being.
However, access to high-quality affordable child care remains one of the biggest barriers for working families and employers alike.
Recent data shows that 82% of Arizona parents reported missing work due to child care issues in the past year, and 35% of parents left a job due to child care challenges. These findings are based on a recent informal survey conducted by First Things First of approximately 500 working parents of young children across Arizona.
At the same time, the child care system itself is under strain. According to the 2021 and 2022 NAEYC Arizona provider surveys, 69% of providers report staffing shortages, and 20% have had to reduce operating hours or leave classrooms unopened.
Affordability is another major challenge. Those same surveys found that child care costs have risen significantly, with infant care costing as much as 20% of a median family’s income in Arizona, well above the recommended affordability benchmark of 7%.
First Things First works in partnership with communities across Arizona to strengthen the early childhood system and address these challenges. Through investments in quality child care, scholarships for families, and professional development for early childhood educators, FTF supports both access and quality in early learning environments.
FTF also funds programs that support families directly, including home visitation, parenting education, and early literacy efforts, helping ensure children enter school ready to succeed. In addition, FTF partners with communities to improve coordination across health, education, and family support systems.
Despite these efforts, continued investment is critical. First Things First is funded primarily through tobacco tax revenues, which have declined significantly over time, placing pressure on core programs that support children, families, and the workforce.
Even with these challenges, investments in early childhood deliver strong economic returns. First Things First programs generate an estimated $323 million in annual economic output, support 2,800 jobs, and contribute over $18 million in state and local tax revenue, according to the Jim Rounds Economic Report.
Reliable child care allows parents to participate consistently in the workforce, increases productivity, and supports long-term educational attainment. In this way, early childhood is not just a family issue, it is a workforce and economic development priority.
As Flagstaff continues to grow, strengthening the early childhood system will be essential to supporting businesses, families, and the broader community.