How Employment and Childcare Barriers Affect Latino Immigrant Families’ Well-Being: Insights from Latino/a Parents in Charlotte

• In Event: Policies and Factors Influencing the Well-Being of Immigrant and Hispanic Families

Abstract

In recent decades, millions of Latino immigrants have arrived in the U.S., many with young children or starting families after migration, seeking upward mobility. Once in the U.S., these families often face employment and early care and education (ECE) barriers that limit opportunities. These challenges are pronounced in Charlotte, where Latino children now make up over 20% of the young child population. Although Latino immigrant parents are highly engaged in the labor force, long hours, low wages, and job instability reduce financial security, increase stress, and limit time for child investment, highlighting the need to expand access to ECE and supportive resources.

This paper uses a community-engaged approach to examine how employment and ECE challenges shape the economic well-being of young Latino families in Charlotte, an illustrative city offering insights for the broader Southeast. In collaboration with Camino Community Health Center and guided by a Community Advisory Board, we analyzed quantitative and qualitative data. U.S. Census and Camino administrative records captured demographics, employment, and childcare responsibilities. We conducted four focus groups with Latina mothers (6–8 participants each) and in-depth interviews with 20 Latino fathers, exploring how work, ECE access, family dynamics, and mental health influence mobility. Bilingual researchers conducted, translated, and coded the qualitative data using thematic analysis, revealing consistent patterns of structural barriers intersecting with family experiences.

Our findings profile Charlotte’s Latino parent population with young children (under age 8) and highlight key barriers and opportunities. Latino families represent a sizable share of the city’s future: 24% of families with young children are Latino, most immigrants. Yet approximately 55% are low-income, a level of economic hardship that may limit both their own and the city’s long-term economic mobility. Promoting upward mobility for these families requires recognizing and supporting their diverse family structures and employment patterns: 30% have both parents employed, 40% have one employed while the other is a stay-at-home caregiver, and 29% are single-parent households.

Additionally, we find that childcare is the third-largest barrier to employment, and work and ECE decisions are made jointly but affect mothers and fathers differently. Latina mothers often forego professional ambitions to care for children, while fathers work long hours, sacrificing family time to provide financial support. Additional barriers—including inflexible hours, low wages, limited job opportunities, legal status concerns, fear of immigration enforcement, and low literacy—further constrain both parents’ employment and access to supportive services, highlighting the importance of culturally relevant, flexible ECE and community supports.

These preliminary findings suggest several strategies to support Latino families’ well-being in Charlotte and beyond. Advancing Latina mothers’ employment requires trusted, flexible childcare and jobs with schedules aligned to family obligations. Latino fathers highlighted the need for housing opportunities, state-supported childcare accessible regardless of legal status, and healthcare access for those without documentation. Together, these recommendations underscore the importance of culturally responsive policies that address the distinct but interconnected needs of mothers and fathers, promoting family prosperity and long-term community mobility.

Author

• Stephanie Potochnick, University of North Carolina, Charlotte
  Presenting Author