the toddlers play with blocks and toys. all under the watchful eye of these child care workers for eight hours a day, every day, called teachers here. they are teachers. they re not just daycare workers. we re caring for children. reporter: but child care workers, 98% women and almost half people of color, are paid poverty level wages to watch, care for and teach america s youngest, earning a median salary of about $24,000, and now there s a shortage of people for this critical work. finding teachers today is quite a challenge. reporter: these classrooms at one of the centers sit sem tee because 30% of their positions are open, just above national numbers showing a nearly 20% loss in the child care workforce since the pandemic. i can t just sell their toilet paper in order to earn more money to pay my teachers
eye of these child care workers for eight hours a day everydy called teachers here. they are teachers. they are not just daycare work h workers. reporter: but 98% with him and almost half people of color are paid poverty level wages to watch, care for and teach america s youngest. earning about $24,000 median. and now there is a shortage of people. finding teachers today is quite a challenge. reporter: these classrooms at one of wonder spring centers sit empty because 30% of their positions are open. just above national numbers showing a nearly 20% loss in the child care workforce since the pandemic. i can t just accept sell mort paper to pay my teachers more. and i can t randomly charge the families 25%, 40% more in tuition. i have to be able to have
early education in west philadelphia start with circle time. the infants are fed and sung to. the toddlers play with blocks and toys all under the watchful eye of the childcare workers for eight hours a day every day called teachers here. they are teachers. they re not just daycare workers. we re not caring for days, we re caring for children. childcare workers, 98% women and almost half people of color are paid poverty level wages to watch, care for, and teach america s youngest. earning a median salary of about $24,000 and now there s a shortage of people for this critical work. finding teachers today is quite a challenge. these classrooms at one of wonder spring centers sit empty because 30% of their positions are open. just above national numbers showing a nearly 20% loss in the