The childcare system has long faced financial strains, but as labor shortages hit industries like healthcare and manufacturing, Wisconsin’s childcare crisis is no longer just a family issue—it’s a workforce challenge. To expand workplace childcare benefits and bring more parents and providers into the workforce, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development partnered with KW2 to launch A Force for Growth. Backed by research and employer insights, the campaign encouraged employers and current and prospective childcare educators to view childcare as a smart investment and economic opportunity.