– Parents also want Homework/Curriculum Support and will pay more for it –
AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- As we approach another hectic back-to-school season, many parents are facing an added stressor this fall – return to offices and hybrid work – that is forcing them to adjust their childcare arrangements. Care.com analyzed last year’s back-to-school childcare hiring trends to identify key dates and trends that might help families streamline and more successfully navigate the hiring process.
“Return to in-person jobs and reconfigured hybrid schedules will cause major rifts in parents’ current childcare plans,” said Maressa Brown, Senior Editor, Care.com. “Families may need to interview and hire multiple caregivers to fill gaps in their weekly schedules, making planning and flexibility key this year. We know parents across the country are facing the same challenge and are looking for tips on how to get ahead of the demand.”
Trends and Key Dates
August 2021 was the peak month on Care.com for the majority (65%) of families looking for back-to-school care, with August 23rd being the most popular day to post back-to-school jobs. Back-to-school caregivers got out ahead of the demand in 2021 with more posting their profiles on August 9th than on any other day during the month.
On average, across the U.S. last year, parents posted their back-to-school jobs approximately 22 days before the expected start date. Since the school year resumes at different times in different regions of the country, key dates for back-to-school care searches varied. In 2021 the most popular dates to post back-to-school jobs by region were: August 1st/Midwest; August 10th/West and South; and August 23rd/Northeast.*
Parents want Homework/Curriculum Support and will pay more for it
From 2019-2021, Care.com found that the start of the school year also drove a spike in interest in homework or curriculum help. More than one-third (34%) of parents looking for back-to-school care specified these functions last year, with these job posts spiking in August and September. Care.com is already seeing a similar trend emerging this month.
And, despite the high cost of care, parents are willing to pay even more for additional help with schoolwork. In 2021, on average parents offered to pay 2% more/hour for these services, or an average of $18.02/hr vs. $17.66/hr.
Optimizing the search for back-to-school help
In addition to noting the key dates related to finding back-to-school care, families can streamline the process by following these steps:
Families can find more resources for hiring their back-to-school babysitter or nanny on Care.com’s Care Guides and view the going rates for sitters in their area on its babysitting calculator.
*U.S. regions are designated as follows: Midwest (SD, NE, ND, MO, MN, KS, IA, WI, OH, MI, IN, IL), Northeast (VT, RI, NH, ME, MA, CT, PA, NY, NJ), South (TX, OK, LA, AR, WV, VA, SC, NC, MD, GA, FL, DE, DC, TN, MS, KY, AL) and West (WA, OR, HI, CA, AK, WY, UT, NV, NM, MT, ID, CO, AZ)
About Care.com
Available in more than 20 countries, Care.com is the world’s leading platform for finding and managing high-quality family care. Care.com is designed to meet the evolving needs of today’s families and caregivers, offering everything from household tax and payroll services and customized corporate benefits packages covering the care needs of working families, to innovating new ways for caregivers to be paid and obtain professional benefits. Since 2007, families have relied on Care.com’s industry-leading products — from child and senior care to pet care and home care. Care.com is an IAC company (NASDAQ: IAC)
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220808005518/en/
Media: Mackenzie Nintzel PR Associate Mackenzie.nintzel@care.com Jamie Gentges PR Associate Jamie.gentges@care.com
Source: Care.com