💡 “Insufficient child care availability drains $5.65 billion from North Carolina’s economy each year through lost productivity and turnover.”
— Status of Women in North Carolina: Investing in Economic Opportunity (2025)
By Lisa Finaldi
A new statewide report from the NC Council for Women & Youth Involvement and the Institute for Women’s Policy Research makes one thing clear: when women thrive, North Carolina thrives.
The Status of Women in North Carolina: Investing in Economic Opportunity report confirms what families and employers across the state already know: Child care access, paid leave, and fair pay aren’t just “women’s issues.” They’re economic imperatives that strengthen families, communities, and the workforce.
Since 2016, North Carolina has made measurable progress in narrowing the gender wage gap, moving from 31st to ninth in the nation. That’s something to celebrate, but we can’t stop there. Progress doesn’t mean parity, especially when affordable child care and paid leave remain out of reach for too many working parents.
At Family Forward NC®, we work every day with employers to make these findings actionable — helping businesses implement family-friendly practices that attract and retain talent while supporting children’s healthy development.
The report’s recommendations read like a roadmap for the kind of future we’re building together:
1. Expand access to paid family and medical leave, child care, and early education.
Let’s start with care. Among North Carolina parents with children under age 6, nearly 94% of fathers are in the labor force compared to 69% of mothers. And mothers are four times as likely to work part-time. Those numbers often don’t reflect choice — they reflect the cost and scarcity of child care.
Full-time, center-based infant care in NC costs an average of $12,251 a year — more than in-state tuition at a public university. And only 7% of our 3-year-olds and 30% of our 4-year-olds are enrolled in preschool. These barriers force many parents — especially mothers — to step back from work or school, shrinking family incomes and our state’s talent pool.
The report calls for a statewide task force to create comprehensive paid family and medical leave, and for expanded public investment in child care and pre-K. Employers don’t have to wait: Family Forward NC® Certified Employers are already leading the way with paid leave policies, child care stipends, predictable scheduling, and backup care partnerships that help parents stay and grow at work.
2. Guarantee workers across the state access to paid sick days.
The governor and General Assembly should work together to make paid sick days the norm in North Carolina. Every worker deserves the ability to take time off to recover from an illness, attend a medical appointment, or care for a sick loved one—without risking their job or paycheck. Research shows that paid sick leave improves public health by reducing the spread of illnesses like the flu, and even helped lower COVID-19 infection rates. It’s good for business, too: Companies in states with paid sick leave laws report stronger employee retention, less turnover, and higher productivity. While several bills were introduced in the 2024–2025 legislative session, none advanced – leaving North Carolina behind many states that already offer this basic protection. Creating a statewide standard for paid sick days would be a win-win for workers, families, and employers.
3. Support pay equity, livable wages, and better workplaces.
Even with progress, women in North Carolina still earn 83.7 cents for every dollar earned by men, with even wider gaps for women of color. Closing those gaps requires both policy and practice: salary transparency, regular pay equity reviews, and clear promotion pathways that recognize skill and experience.
When businesses prioritize pay equity and fair wages, they reduce turnover, increase productivity, and strengthen trust. A truly family-friendly workplace isn’t just about flexibility — it’s about fairness.
4. Invest in women’s education, career pathways, and small-business ownership.
Economic opportunity begins with access to education, and child care is often the deciding factor. Too many parents, particularly mothers, pause or abandon degree or training programs because they can’t find or afford reliable child care.
Expanding affordable child care isn’t just a family policy; it’s workforce development. It allows women to pursue higher education, enter new industries, and start small businesses that fuel local economies. When parents can both care and learn, the entire state gains.
Where We Go from Here
As Governor Josh Stein said when releasing the report: When women succeed, families and communities succeed.
North Carolina has momentum — and a clear to-do list. Policymakers must expand paid leave and child care investments. Employers can start right now by adopting family-friendly practices that support working parents and improve retention.
At Family Forward NC®, we believe investing in women is investing in the future of North Carolina. Let’s build a state where every parent can care, learn, and work with dignity.
➡️ Learn more and join the Family Forward NC® Certified Employer network at familyforwardnc.com.