Wisconsin’s child care industry continues to face a critical staffing crisis — one that is expected to get worse if federal COVID relief funding isn’t replaced once it runs out.

That’s according to a recent national survey of early childhood educators, which found 63.3% of Wisconsin centers are experiencing staffing shortages and that 79.8% of workers are facing burnout and exhaustion. The survey, conducted by the National Association for the Education of Young Children, included responses from 1,173 Wisconsin child care providers.

Madison Area Technical College received a $2.9 million grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. to help build capacity for child care on Madison’s South Side and near other MATC campuses in the region.

[Adapted from: Survey: A third of Wisconsin child care centers could close if economic conditions don’t improve January 17, 2023 Wisconsin State Journal]