Why Early Learning Matters In Louisiana 

 

Skilled Workforce

 

Louisiana’s business leaders have an acute understanding of the importance of a well-educated workforce to keep America competitive globally and ensure a vibrant economy.

 

Globalization and new technology have reduced the chances of earning a living wage without advanced skills or education, at the same time that the proportion of Americans who have the skills to meet that need is shrinking.

 

What is clear is that individuals need to achieve education beyond a high school degree and need to develop advanced technical skills. Early and sustained participation in quality early care and education leads to:
 

• More children graduating high school,

• Higher earnings rates for parents and for the children once grown,

• Reduced public spending on remedial education and services, and

• Lower incarceration rates.
   

The pathway toward a skilled workforce in Louisiana is a challenge because Louisiana’s four year high school graduation rate is only 77.5%.    
 

By investing in quality child care and early learning settings, Louisiana’s children will be on a pathway toward the skill set they need to be productive and successful in tomorrow’s workforce.

 

Additional resources:

• Committee for Economic Development. “Unfinished Business: Continued Investment in Child Care and Early Education is Critical to Business and America’s Future.” (2012).

• U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Institute for a Competitive Workforce. “Why Business Should Support Early Childhood Education.” (2010). 

• Forbes "A Radical Idea to Help College Students Succeed: Child Care" (2019)