Oregon still needs more child care, especially for babies

(AUGUST 11, 2025) A new report shows that many families in Oregon still struggle to find child care, especially for very young children. The "Oregon's Child Care Deserts 2024" report looks at how many child care spots are available in different parts of the state. This is the fourth report of its kind, following earlier reports from 2018, 2020, and 2022.

What is a Child Care Desert? 

A "child care desert" is a place where there are more than three young children for every regulated child care spot. This means that less than 33% of children in that area can potentially get a child care spot that follows state rules.

Child Care Spots in Oregon (2024): The report found big differences depending on a child's age:

• For Infants and Toddlers (children from birth to 2 years old):

  • Almost every county in Oregon is a child care desert for this age group.

  • 34 out of Oregon's 36 counties are child care deserts for infants and toddlers.

  • This means there are about five infants and toddlers for every one child care spot in the state.

  • Approximately one-fifth of Oregon’s counties are "extreme deserts" for babies and toddlers, meaning there is at most one slot for every 10 children.

• For Preschool-Age Children (children 3 to 5 years old):

  • The situation is much better, but there are still some problems.

  • Only 9 out of Oregon's 36 counties are child care deserts for preschool-age children.

  • There are about three preschool-age children for every one child care spot.

Is It Getting Better? 

Yes, for preschool-age children, the situation has improved over time. In 2018, 27 counties were child care deserts for preschoolers. Now, in 2024, that number has dropped to only 9 counties. For infants and toddlers, most counties are still child care deserts, though two counties (Gilliam and Multnomah) are no longer considered deserts for this age group since 2018. Overall, the total number of regulated child care spots in Oregon for children ages 0-5 increased by 9% since 2022, reaching an estimated 77,832 spots.

How Government Money Helps

Money from the government, called "public funding," is very important for child care in Oregon.

• About 23% of all regulated child care spots in Oregon for children age five and under are publicly funded.

• For infants and toddlers, only 10% of spots are publicly funded.

• For preschool-age children, 29% of spots are publicly funded.

• The report states that without these publicly funded spots, 19 more counties would become child care deserts for preschool children, meaning 28 out of 36 counties would be deserts. All 36 counties would be deserts for infants and toddlers without public spots.

• Counties outside of big cities (non-metropolitan counties) often have a higher percentage of publicly funded child care spots. For example, 46% of slots in non-metropolitan counties are publicly funded for young children, compared to 18% in metropolitan counties.

What Else Matters for Families? 

This report focuses on how many child care spots are available. This is called "supply." But finding child care is also about other things, like if families can afford the price and if the care is high quality. The report notes that more investment and new solutions are needed to help families find the child care they need, because having enough spots is not enough if families cannot afford them or if the care is not good.