Missouri Childcare Centers Face Staff Retention Crisis Amid Low Wages
Missouri childcare centers report turnover rates up to 40% as workers leave due to wages barely above minimum and lack of benefits.
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI — Childcare centers across Missouri are facing severe staff retention problems, as workers leave the industry due to low wages and limited benefits, according to childcare advocates and industry leaders.
Beth Ann Lang, deputy chief executive officer of Child Care Aware of Missouri, has spent more than 20 years working to address the state’s childcare crisis. She said the industry faces deep-rooted problems that make it difficult to keep qualified staff.
“If you’re not being paid and you don’t have an education base to be able to do your very best, then people don’t want to stay in our field,” Lang said.
High Turnover Rates Plague Industry
A January 2025 report from Child Care Aware documented staff turnover rates between 26% and 40% due to stagnant wages between 2020 and 2024. Lang explained that salaries vary by region, but many workers receive compensation barely above minimum wage and rarely get benefits.
The wage problem stems from a broader cultural issue, according to Lang. She noted that the education field is undervalued in the United States, creating systemic problems throughout the industry.
“If you’ve ever looked at some other countries and how they approach education and early childhood education, it’s much more part of the larger system,” Lang said. “It’s viewed as a very important job and one that actually makes money.”
Complex Work Beyond Basic Supervision
Amber Hansen, executive director of Seeds of Faith Preschool in Clinton, has been advocating for early childhood education to be recognized as a legitimate career path. She emphasized that the work involves much more than simple supervision.
“Childcare is not easy. There’s lots of factors that happen in these early years of brain development,” Hansen said. “We’re dealing with kids with trauma, foster kids. There’s lots of things that go into our job; it’s not just having them sit at a desk and complete a worksheet.”
Hansen said staff retention challenges vary from year to year but remain a persistent problem across the industry. Her preschool requires teachers to sign contracts for nine-month school years, which helps maintain stability in day-to-day operations.
Operational Challenges for Year-Round Programs
“Retention is a challenge for any childcare provider because of the pay factor,” Hansen said.
While Hansen’s contracted approach provides some protection, she acknowledged that centers operating 12-month programs face greater difficulties. When staff members give two weeks’ notice, administrators have little time to find replacements and complete required background checks.
The staffing crisis comes as Missouri continues statewide discussions about providing adequate and affordable childcare options for families. However, the underlying workforce challenges threaten the sustainability of existing programs and limit expansion opportunities.
Lang’s organization continues working with policymakers and industry leaders to develop solutions that address both compensation issues and professional development requirements for childcare workers.
