This brief presents findings that are most relevant to local policymakers from a study of nontraditional-hour child care in Austin/Travis County. Findings are based on an analysis of data collected through interviews and focus groups and analyses of survey and administrative data.

Key findings

• The need for nontraditional-hour child care (before 7:00 a.m. and after 6:00 p.m. during the traditional workweek and anytime on weekends) in Austin/Travis County is substantial and outstrips supply.
• Nearly one-third of children with working parents (or about 18,000 children) in Austin/Travis County have parents who work during nontraditional hours, but only about 2,000 regulated child care spaces are available during nontraditional hours.
• The potential demand for nontraditional-hour child care is higher among groups facing structural barriers to opportunities, such as children in families with parents who are Black, Hispanic, and immigrants; and who have lower education levels or are working and enrolled in school simultaneously.
• The potential demand for nontraditional-hour child care varies by period, with higher need in the hour before and after the traditional day and the weekend. This was also reflected in study participants’ reports.
• Supply of nontraditional-hour child care in Austin/Travis County is limited, and most regulated providers offering nontraditional-hour care are home-based providers.
• Parents participating in this study had different preferences for types of nontraditional-hour care depending on the time of the day.
• Austin/Travis County study participants reported a range of consequences from inadequate supply of nontraditional-hour child care, including decreased financial well-being for families and reduced ability to access talented employees for businesses.
• None of the parents participating in the study reported using child care subsidies for nontraditional-hour child care. To address the demand for nontraditional-hour child care, Austin/Travis County leaders, local workforce boards, state agencies responsible for child care, and the federal government can pilot a range of initiatives, prioritize exploring incentives that are sufficient for regulated providers to expand hours of care, and support unregulated providers in becoming licensed and participating in the subsidy system to offer nontraditional-hour child care.