Abstract

This is the second in a series of five reports that together use the Growing Up in New Zealandlongitudinal survey data to explore how the inability to access affordable childcare affects thelong run labour market outcomes of mothers. This report investigates the persistence ofmothers’ difficulties accessing affordable childcare. It shows 20% of issues with access tochildcare at 9 months are clearly unresolved at 2 years, 37% may be unresolved (indicated by achild not in childcare where the main reason is parental preferences), and only 43% are clearlyresolved (indicated by the child being in childcare). Māori and Pasifika face modestly morepersistent issues than Europeans, which, when combined with their higher rates of access issuesat 9 months, make them 3 to 4 times as likely to experience long term access issues. In general,the results show more disadvantaged mothers, who were found in the first report to have higherrates of issues with access to childcare, also have more persistent issues with access to childcare.This is particularly true for mothers from low-income households.

Suggested citation

Sin, I. (2022). How persistent are issues with access to affordable childcare? Motu Economic and Public Policy Research. https://www.motu.nz/assets/Uploads/Access-to-Childcare-Persistence-note-FINAL.pdf

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