Globally, women do less paid work than men, and childcare responsibilities are one important reason why. Could better access to childcare help more women enter the workforce, increase household incomes, and boost economic growth?

In this episode of Economics Unpacked, Lore Vandewalle and Rachel Heath explore what the evidence from Uganda, Kenya, Nicaragua, and elsewhere tells us about childcare, women’s employment, and household incomes.

Research reveals an important complication: while childcare increased work and earnings among single mothers, in two-parent households it was often fathers who worked and earned more. Looking only at women’s employment, therefore, can miss some of the wider benefits of childcare.

We also explore evidence showing that access to childcare can substantially increase women’s employment, why combining paid work with looking after children can reduce women’s earnings, and whether community-provided childcare could offer an affordable and potentially self-sustaining alternative to government-run centres.

View episode of Economics Unpacked.