A lack of childcare has meant that almost 30pc of parents could not attend work or missed out on job opportunities, a new survey has found.
The research also found that women are twice as likely as men to miss work because they have no childcare.
The survey of 1,000 respondents was undertaken on behalf of Seas Suas, the representative body for independent providers in the early education and childcare sector.
Its chairperson, Regina Bushell, said: “We live in an era where many social barriers have been broken down. But as our survey shows, many women continue to be impeded in reaching their full potential in the workplace, as they disproportionately carry the burden of the lack of access to childcare.”
Affordability emerged as the most significant challenge faced by families in accessing childcare, with almost seven out of 10 respondents citing cost as a factor.
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