The report reveals a crisis of "compounded care": 56% of sandwich generation caregivers are women, and the majority face significant financial strain as they navigate childcare costs averaging $32,000 annually alongside eldercare expenses that can exceed $50,000 per year. The economic toll is staggering — sandwich caregivers lose an estimated $7,500 annually in reduced earnings, representing a $184 billion drag on the U.S. economy. Experts call for integrated family care policies that treat childcare and eldercare as a single, unified infrastructure challenge.

"The care economy cannot be solved in silos. What we need is a unified infrastructure for the full arc of family life — from birth to dignified aging," says the director of Pew's Family Caregiving Initiative.

The report highlights a significant shift in capital allocation, with institutional investors increasingly treating childcare facilities as "essential social infrastructure" similar to healthcare and green energy.

The update provides a critical safety net as several states navigate the expiration of pandemic-era stabilization funds—a phenomenon often referred to as the 'Child Care Cliff.' By maintaining current funding levels and including modest increases for the PDG Birth to Five program, the federal government aims to prevent a projected 15% reduction in care capacity in high-demand regions. This stability is seen as a major victory for workforce retention in the post-AI transition economy.

"Stable childcare funding is the single most effective tool we have for economic resilience. Today's update ensures that millions of parents can remain in the workforce with confidence," says NAFCC Policy Director.