From Cradle to Career: Why Texas' Workforce Begins in the Nursery

By Christopher C. Herring
River Walk Magazine

San Antonio, Austin, and Houston — July 4, 2025

In the economic capitals of Texas — Bexar, Travis, and Harris counties — the blueprint for workforce development is undergoing a radical reframing. It no longer begins at college enrollment or high school graduation. Instead, it starts much earlier — in the cradle.

Recent data from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and the Texas Demographic Center reveals a stark reality: only 31% to 39% of children ages 0–5 in these counties can be served by currently licensed childcare facilities. That means more than 6 out of 10 young children may lack access to formal early learning environments — a critical gap for a state banking on innovation and industry leadership.

“We don’t just have a childcare gap,” says a workforce economist at the Greater Houston Partnership. “We have a talent pipeline problem that starts before children can walk.”

A Hidden Bottleneck in Texas’ Economic Engine

• Bexar County, home to San Antonio’s growing cybersecurity and bioscience sectors, has roughly 149,000 children under age 6. Licensed childcare centers in the area can accommodate just 58,000 — covering only 39% of need.
• Travis County, the nucleus of Texas’ tech boom, posts a similar picture: 35% coverage, leaving tens of thousands of children — and their parents — in limbo.
• Harris County, by far the largest, has an even wider chasm. Nearly 319,000 children under age 6 are competing for 98,000 licensed slots, yielding a coverage rate of just 31%.

These counties form the economic triad of Texas, driving much of the state’s GDP, exports, and employment. Yet the infrastructure to support working families — and build tomorrow’s workforce — remains woefully underbuilt.

“You can’t grow an economy when your future workers don’t have a safe place to learn and grow,” notes Teresa Chavarria, a veteran educator and esthetics institute founder in San Antonio. “Childcare is infrastructure. It’s no less critical than broadband or roads.”

Early Care Is Early Education — and a Down Payment on the Future

Decades of research back the argument. High-quality early childhood education improves school readiness, narrows achievement gaps, and increases long-term earnings. Nobel Laureate economist James Heckman has famously noted that investments in early childhood yield annual returns of 7–10%, outperforming most infrastructure projects.

But it’s not just about children — it’s also about keeping parents in the workforce. In a state where many families rely on dual incomes, lack of childcare forces thousands of mothers — disproportionately women of color — out of the labor market each year.

In Bexar County, where roughly 61% of children under 6 live in households with all parents working, the shortage becomes more than a statistical inconvenience — it’s a structural failure.

The Pipeline That Powers Texas

As San Antonio scales up its bioscience corridor, Austin cements its place as the "Silicon Hills," and Houston diversifies its energy portfolio, the need for a prepared and present workforce has never been more urgent.

This means Texas must reframe childcare not as a social issue, but as an economic imperative.

Workforce boards across the state have started to take notice. Houston’s Early Matters coalition, San Antonio’s ReadyKidSA, and Austin’s Start Smart initiative all emphasize the same truth: early childhood education is economic development.

“Every engineer, nurse, coder, and technician we’ll need in 2040 is crawling around somewhere in Texas today,” says a Travis County early education planner. “We either invest now or pay later.”

A Call to Action

Policymakers, employers, and investors should view childcare facilities as launchpads for the future workforce — and support them accordingly. Whether through employer-subsidized care, tax incentives for providers, or public-private innovation zones, Texas must move quickly to close the gap.

Without urgent intervention, the state’s economic boom could be hobbled by something as mundane — and as vital — as the lack of a place for toddlers to learn their ABCs.

Because in the end, it’s not just about access. It’s about alignment. When early childhood care, education, and workforce development are on the same page, Texas doesn’t just build better businesses. It builds a better future.

By Christopher C. Herring
Executive Director, Global Chamber San Antonio
Publisher, River Walk Magazine
Veteran, U.S. Air Force | Civic Leader | Advocate for Economic Equity

Christopher C. Herring is a nationally recognized voice in economic development and early childhood advocacy. As the publisher of River Walk Magazine and Executive Director of the Global Chamber in San Antonio, he champions data-driven policy and public-private solutions that strengthen families and the future workforce across Texas.