CHICAGO (PRWEB) August 01, 2019
As parents around the country prepare for back-to-school, Sittercity, America’s first online source for in-home care, found that a third of parents surveyed are unable to participate fully in the workforce as a result of not having reliable childcare. The survey also shows that family relationships improve with reliable childcare, with 84 percent of respondents reporting that making more time for themselves during the school year positively impacts their relationship with their significant other.
“According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 70 percent of mothers are in the workforce,” said Elizabeth Harz, CEO of Sittercity. “This trend continues to grow year over year, making it vital for working parents to find reliable childcare. Our goal is to simplify the way families and sitters connect.”
Work It
Key Sittercity survey findings also detail the impact of childcare on the workforce:
- Back to Work: Across generations, 70 percent of working moms say they were able to enter or reenter the workforce due to reliable childcare (77 percent for millennials; 64 percent for Gen X)
- Getting Ahead: 74 percent of working mothers say they have excelled in their careers as a result of their babysitters and nannies, further demonstrating the importance of reliable childcare for families (76 percent for millennials and 72 percent for Gen X).
- Out of Office: The majority of working moms (nearly 70 percent) say they’ve been pulled away from a work commitment one or more times a year because they didn’t have childcare— with 41 percent of Generation X report having been pulled away more than five times a year
Love, Love, Love
Respondents also say that their sitters and nannies have helped them improve their relationship with their significant other and themselves. Key relationship findings include:
- Time Out: Across generations, 84 percent say making more time for themselves during the school year positively impacts their relationship with their significant other.
- It’s a Date: Fifty percent of moms say they prioritize having at least one date night a month with their significant other, but 77 percent say they have had to sacrifice a date night because they did not have a sitter.
- Sitter Solutions: Nearly half of respondents (43 percent) ages 22-25 say having reliable childcare allows them to have much needed “me time”, while parents ages 26-45 (47 percent) say childcare allows them to give 100 percent to their careers. Sixty-four percent of parents aged 46-55 say it gives them peace of mind that their kids are happy.
“I understand first-hand the challenges that come with juggling a career, kids and a significant other - you often have to say no to anything outside the must do,” continued Harz. “We want to give parents the freedom to say yes!”
Sittercity conducted a survey of 578 parents with at least one child under the age of 13 to gain insight into families childcare needs and attitudes. The survey was conducted between June 27 and July 21, 2019.
About Sittercity
Sittercity is a technology company on a mission to make child care finally work. We pioneered tech enabled child care in 2001, and we connect millions of parents with babysitters and nannies every year. Recently recognized as a 2018 Chicago Innovation Award winner and one of the best places to work by Crain’s and Built in Chicago, we are building a platform that is radically simplifying the way we find, book and pay for trusted care. Headquartered in Chicago, we serve families and caregivers nationwide.