L.A. County Facts

  • According to U.S. Census 2015 estimates, LA County is home to 10,038,388 people.  Of these, 641,635 children are under 5 years of age1.
  • 18.2% of all people in LA County live under the poverty level, including 26.6% children.  This is higher than the State average1.
  • In 2015 the median income in LA County was $56,1961.  However, the average family who receives child care vouchers from Alliance agencies earns significantly less.  A 2012 study found that the average income of a parent enrolled in one of these child care voucher programs was about $16,241.
  • Parents with two children earning the County median family income would need to spend nearly half of their income (45%) on child care. For families below the poverty line, the situation is even more dire2.
  • Teaching infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children requires the equivalent level of skills and knowledge as teaching older children, yet the pay for the early care and education workforce is less than half of what kindergarten teachers make. Los Angeles County early care and education staff make an average of between $11.73 and $14.75 per hour2.
  • In Los Angeles County, families that are low-income (excluding Welfare-to-Work parents) qualify for a voucher program knows as Alternative Payment. In Los Angeles County.  As of 2016, the total number of children served in this program was 6,923 children3 while the waiting lists reached 44,5594.
  • L.A. County needs about 61,800 full-time staff – or an additional 33,600
    workers – to supplement the estimated 28,200 existing ECE workers
    and to meet the needs of 440,000 children ages zero to five5
  1. S. Census 2015 Estimates
  2. The State of Early Care and Education in Los Angeles County: Los Angeles County Child Care Planning Committee 2017 Needs Assessment
  3. Child Care Alliance Monthly Report – December 2016
  4. 2016 Child Care Alliance WL Survey
  5. UNITE-LA Child Care Workers are Essential to the Economy 2021 – access summary here