A recent study examining the long-term effects of subsidized child care in Quebec reveals significant benefits for mothers’ employment and earnings that extend well beyond their children’s early years. The research, conducted by a team of Canadian and American economists, found that access to affordable child care not only increased workforce participation among mothers but also improved their income trajectories over several decades.

The study compared outcomes for mothers in Quebec to a hypothetical scenario in which the province’s subsidized child-care program did not exist, suggesting that the program placed working mothers on a markedly different career path. According to Kevin Milligan, a professor of economics at the University of British Columbia and one of the study’s authors, the continuity of work experience enabled by affordable child care plays a crucial role in sustaining long-term employment and earnings.

Milligan explained that extended absences from the workforce can lead to skill depreciation, making it harder for mothers to re-enter or progress in the labor market. “If you’re out for, like, three or four years... your office is full of people running Claude Code and autonomous agents,” he stated, referring to rapidly evolving workplace technologies that can leave returning workers at a disadvantage. Affordable child care helps mitigate these challenges by allowing mothers to maintain continuous employment.

The research showed that by their 40s, women who benefited from subsidized child care were more likely to hold managerial positions and earn higher hourly wages than those without such support. This positive trend intensified into their 50s, with employment rates among these mothers increasing by approximately 12 percentage points. Earnings at age 50 were about 27 percent higher, with roughly half of this rise attributed to more mothers remaining employed and the other half linked to career advancement and skill accumulation.

These findings offer a compelling financial perspective for parents considering whether to pause their careers for caregiving responsibilities. While personal and family factors often influence such decisions, the study underscores the substantial lifetime economic gains associated with sustained workforce participation facilitated by accessible child care.

Milligan emphasized that recognizing these long-term earnings benefits is essential: “There are some dollars on the table there... There are lifetime higher earnings available for most women.” The research highlights the value of public policies that support working parents, illustrating how they can yield lasting advantages beyond the immediate cost-benefit calculations often associated with early childhood care.