08/01/2015

Childcare Costs Forcing Parents To Give Up Work

One in five parents with childcare costs will reduce the amount of hours they work, or will consider giving up work altogether, in 2015.

The national survey of 1,000 parents of children aged between 0-16, commissioned by 4Children and carried out by Opinium, found that of those parents paying for childcare, almost a fifth are considering reducing their hours at work or giving up their job altogether because of the financial strain.

While more than a quarter (28%) of the same parents will be cutting back on treats in order to meet high childcare costs, 16% admit they will have to cut back on essentials over the next 12 months.

4Children Chief Executive, Anne Longfield OBE, said: "Childcare represents a huge financial challenge for most parents and our poll shows the real impact costs are having on family life – from giving up work to cutting back on essentials.

"Removing parents' choice as to whether or not they continue to work after having children is not the answer for families or for the economy.

"Parents of the youngest children are feeling the pressures most acutely and are calling on politicians to do more to help, particularly with the cost of childcare."

(CD/JP)

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