FFN Child Care & the Local Workforce

Many working families rely on Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) care to meet their childcare needs—especially employees working nontraditional hours. In Forsyth County, 70% of children are cared for in FFN settings, often because this care offers the flexibility and trust families need. At the same time, 83% of working families receive no public childcare support, leaving employees to manage these challenges on their own and employers to feel the impact through absenteeism, scheduling and productivity gaps and shortfalls. This brief survey will help identify how childcare realities affect local businesses and where practical, employer-informed solutions may help strengthen the workforce.