Random childcare disruptions cost mothers jobs, even when care is available

New research shows that mothers lose jobs not just from a lack of childcare, but from random, intermittent disruptions to existing care. Things like wildfire smoke closing schools can add up to significant employment losses for mothers, especially in less flexible workplaces.

People often assume that if formal childcare and schools exist, mothers can work. This paper shows that the reliability of that care matters as much as its availability. It means that even with enough daycare slots, random events like extreme weather or public health crises can still push mothers out of the workforce. The cumulative effect is significant, especially for those in less flexible jobs.