Identifying Strategies to Strengthen the Childcare Workforce in Texas

In 2024, the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC) engaged Social Finance to conduct research and develop recommendations to support its 2026-2028 Child Care Workforce Strategic Plan. The goal of the strategic plan is to identify actionable and practical approaches to improve the quality of the childcare workforce in Texas. Our work centered practitioner perspective, employed rigorous statewide data collection, and produced recommendations aligned with TWC’s scope and funding.  

Project Approach 

Our work leveraged three key workstreams: 

• Director Survey: We conducted a representative survey of childcare directors in Texas. The survey results provided statewide, representative data on childcare program demographics, compensation, benefits, staffing patterns, program operations, professional development opportunities, and workforce challenges. 

• Focus Groups: We facilitated three focus groups for rural program directors, urban program directors, and home-based program directors to understand the context and nuance behind staff recruitment and retention, changes in pay and benefits, and childcare system processes and structures.  

• Expert Workgroup: We led and managed four in-person workgroup meetings that brought together key childcare stakeholders including state policymakers, advocacy organizations, employers, workforce boards, childcare program staff, and other experts from across Texas. These sessions surfaced insights from practitioners and served as a forum for developing and refining workforce recommendations. 

Key research questions 

Our work was guided by answering the following research questions: 

1. What are the demographic characteristics of childcare workers in Texas? 
2. What are the major challenges that childcare program directors face in maintaining a stable and high-quality workforce?
3. What compensation and benefits do childcare workers receive?
4. What are the educational and professional development experiences and preferences for childcare workers?
5. How can the TWC, given its resources and mandate, best improve and support worker recruitment, training, and retention? 

The Results 

Our research culminated in a comprehensive report to the TWC on recommendations to strengthen the workforce. The recommendations were organized by three strategic goals: 

1. Childcare Program and Workforce Support: Strengthen the childcare and early learning programs to be more effective and efficient, and a better place to work. 
2. Professional Development: Provide information and resources to existing childcare workers to improve service quality and encourage professional growth.
3. Pipeline and Recruitment Support: Offer information and resources to remove barriers and increase entrants of prospective childcare workers into the field.