A new Rutgers–Eagleton Poll conducted for Start Strong NJ finds a sizable majority of New Jerseyans believes it is difficult to find quality, affordable childcare — and that high costs are a significant barrier for parents working and a drag on the state’s economy.
Only 11% of those surveyed say finding quality, affordable childcare in New Jersey is “very” or “somewhat easy,” compared to 55% who call it “somewhat” or “very difficult.” More than half (53%) view the lack of affordable childcare as a major barrier for parents who want to work; 19% call it a minor barrier.
The survey reveals the universality of New Jersey’s childcare crisis. Significant pluralities across income levels, gender, political identification, race and ethnicity, and among those living in New Jersey’s urban, suburban, and exurban regions and near the Jersey Shore believe it’s difficult to find quality, affordable childcare and that this is a barrier to parents working.
New Jerseyans also see wider consequences for the state. Nearly two-thirds (65%) say the lack of affordable childcare affects New Jersey’s businesses and economy “a great deal” or “some.”
Asked about what state government should do, 43% want childcare spending increased — with one in five saying it should be “increased a lot” — and 15% say it should be decreased. About a third are unsure, suggesting potential broad openness to greater investment.
“New Jerseyans are sending a very clear message: Affordable childcare must be a top policy priority,” said Sharon Levine, Start Strong NJ campaign director. “It’s clear that child care is a public good, not a problem parents can solve on their own. Policymakers need to see child care as essential economic infrastructure and fund it accordingly.”
In its recently released Blueprint for Affordable Child Care: New Jersey Doesn’t Work Without It, Start Strong NJ noted that the child care crisis costs New Jersey $5 billion a year in lost wages because so many working parents have to stay home, causes staff shortages and decreased productivity for businesses, and deprives the state of tax revenue needed for important services.
Ashley Koning, assistant research professor and director of the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling at Rutgers University-New Brunswick said that the findings reflect a consistent, bipartisan picture of concern.
“Whether Democrat, independent, or Republican, New Jerseyans recognize child care is crucial to our state’s health and prosperity,” Koning said. “There is broad agreement that availability and affordability are challenges — and that state government has a role to play.”
The results are from a statewide poll of 1,568 adults contacted through the probability-based Rutgers-Eagleton/SSRS Garden State Panel from March 27 to March 30. The full sample has a margin of error of +/- 3.2 percentage points.
About Start Strong NJ
Start Strong NJ is a statewide campaign to put affordable, high-quality child care within reach of all New Jersey families. Inclusive and nonpartisan, Start Strong NJ recognizes childcare is essential economic infrastructure for New Jersey rather than a problem individual families can solve on their own. Led by Advocates for Children of New Jersey and New Jersey Association of the Education of Young Children, Start Strong NJ brings together parents, early childhood educators, business leaders, policy experts, and others who want to give every child the strong start needed for lifelong health and well-being.
About the Rutgers Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling
Home of the Rutgers-Eagleton Poll, the Eagleton Center for Public Interest Polling (ECPIP) was established in 1971 and is the oldest and one of the most respected university-based statewide polling operations in the United States. Now in its 52nd year and with the publication of over 200 polls, ECPIP’s mission is to provide scientifically sound, nonpartisan information about public opinion. To read more about ECPIP and view all of our press releases, published research and data archive, please visit our website: http://eagletonpoll.rutgers.edu/. You can also visit our Facebook and Bluesky.
About the Rutgers-Eagleton/SSRS Garden State Panel
The Rutgers-Eagleton/SSRS Garden State Panel is a probability-based panel of New Jersey adults age 18 or older. The panel is managed and maintained by SSRS, a full-service research firm based in Glen Mills, PA. Panelists are recruited randomly based on statewide representative ABS (Address Based Sample) design. The ABS sample is drawn from the Delivery Sequence File (DSF) maintained by the U.S. Postal Service, which provide population coverage in the 98%-99% range. The Rutgers-Eagleton/SSRS Garden State Panel is a multi-mode panel. Internet households participate via web while all non-internet households (including those who have internet but are unwilling to take surveys online) participate via phone. Panelists also have the option of taking surveys in their preferred language (English or Spanish).
