ReadyNation Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan group of nearly 300 employers and managers, statewide. These executives come from a wide range of business sectors — from manufacturing to health care to local chambers of commerce, and beyond. All share a concern for improving Illinois’ workforce and economy.

From research and their own experience, ReadyNation members know that public investments in children’s well-being can help:

• Stabilize today’s workforce, by helping working parents to secure affordable, high-quality child care and related early childhood services for their kids — something that four out of five surveyed Illinois business leaders recognize to be a struggle for their employees.
• Strengthen the workforce of tomorrow by laying a foundation for skills development in young children, a platform for success in school and then in jobs and careers — a goal called “important” by 86% of executives responding to an Illinois poll.

Overall, 91.5% of the 400 Illinois employers and managers participating in that ReadyNation survey said they support greater public investments in high-quality child care and early childhood services. It’s not difficult to see why.