Last week, PA Chamber Government Affairs Director Aaron Riggleman testified before the House Labor and Industry Committee on Pennsylvania’s existing childcare framework and potential reforms to help address the ongoing childcare crisis, strengthen the Commonwealth’s workforce, and improve economic competitiveness.

Riggleman emphasized that Pennsylvania’s workforce shortage remains one of the most significant challenges facing employers. Businesses consistently identify workforce availability as a top concern, with childcare playing a critical role in that conversation.

Increasingly, childcare is not just a family issue; it is an economic one that impacts the entire Commonwealth. Pennsylvania loses an estimated $3.47 billion annually due to childcare-related disruptions. Employers lose approximately $2.88 billion in productivity from absenteeism and turnover, while the Commonwealth forfeits roughly $591 million in tax revenue.

Riggleman noted that childcare providers report hiring and retaining qualified workers as one of their greatest challenges, often due to operational constraints. He urged lawmakers to prioritize practical workforce programs and strategies to recruit, train, and retain childcare workers. These include creating flexible career pathways, expanding awareness of childcare as a profession, supporting internships and early-exposure opportunities, and ensuring that workforce development efforts are accessible and effective.

“Workforce programs should help remove these obstacles so providers can introduce young people to the field without creating additional operational burdens,” Riggleman told the committee.

He also highlighted that providers frequently face outdated or overly burdensome regulations, including licensing delays, zoning challenges, and compliance requirements that increase costs and complicate operations without necessarily improving safety. While child safety must remain the top priority, Riggleman stressed that regulations should be modern, practical, and focused on meaningful outcomes. At a time when childcare shortages already limit workforce participation, Pennsylvania must support responsible providers in expanding capacity.

Across the state, childcare providers are also contending with rising insurance premiums, limited coverage options, and legal risks that can force small operators to close. Riggleman noted that if lawmakers are serious about expanding childcare availability, they must address the legal environment driving these costs. This includes strengthening Fair Share protections, establishing reasonable liability caps, and ending venue-shopping practices that inflate litigation and insurance costs.

“Taken together, these challenges make one thing clear: childcare must be treated as essential workforce infrastructure,” Riggleman said. “If Pennsylvania is serious about improving labor force participation, supporting employers, and strengthening economic competitiveness, we need a policy environment that supports both working families and the providers who make work possible.”

His full testimony is available here.