Abstract
Triangulating the Montana childcare crisis: Comparing employer and employee perceptions of childcare needs within south-central Montana Background: Access to and affordability of childcare is a major concern for US parents and caregivers. Between 2016-2018, over 2 million parents cut hours, quit a job, or turned down a job offer due to problems with childcare. When forced to leave the workforce to become full-time caregivers, parents are economically harmed through lost wages, benefits, and the ability to save for retirement.