A childcare crisis in the Cowichan Valley is morphing from a social problem into an economical one.

As a result of space shortages in licensed and registered childcare centres, some local entrepreneurs are having trouble recruiting and retaining employees.

Furthermore, business owners say they’re being forced to become more flexible with hours to accommodate parents who can’t find affordable childcare.

“I can see that the childcare issue is no longer just a social issue,” said Mike Watkins, president of the Duncan-Cowichan Chamber of Commerce. “It is affecting our business community directly.”

The B.C. Chamber of Commerce recognized this in May, when it passed a resolution, recognizing the provincial economy is limited when young families opt not work.

Indeed, said Watkins, a labour shortage coupled with parents unable to work is making it difficult for shops to operate and forcing some to shorten their hours.

“We’ve had a lot of input from our businesses locally,” he said. “All we can do as the chamber is be an advocate to try and petition the government to change their policies.”

Watkins knows firsthand the effects childcare have on the economy.

He hired two women to work the front desk at his business, …., affording both time to look after their families.

“We’re seeing a lot of that in the Cowichan Valley,” he said. “It’s certainly forcing people to be more flexible in the way they do business.”

Earlier this month, a 52-page draft report documenting the need for more childcare resources was publicly released.

According to the document, commissioned by Social Planning Cowichan, there are enough childcare spaces in the region to accommodate half the Valley children who need it.

“At our childcare forum (held when the document was released), a young woman was telling us she was fired from her position because she didn’t have dependable daycare,” said SPC executive director Diane Kennedy.

“It applies not just to people who are working but people who are training to get into the workforce.”

Duncan stores are also being affected by the situation, according to Susan Faulkner, president of the Duncan Business Improvement Association.

“I can tell you at least one business downtown has come and gone as a result of a lack of affordable childcare,” she said. “The restrictions of the daycare issue became overwhelming.

“Having a child and business is really onerous.”

Recruiting and retaining employees in downtown shops is also a significant issue for local entrepreneurs, Faulkner said.

“it is a really big issue for retailers because retailers can not pay adequate wages to make it viable for young working parents.”

Even businesses that do pay well have trouble recruiting employees, said North Cowichan Councillor Ruth Hartmann, owner of a designing company.

Despite paying “really good dollars”, Hartmann said she has had trouble finding employees, with one woman even turning down a job offer after citing childcare as a reason.

A current employee was unable to work on a number of days over the summer, because she couldn’t find adequate childcare, Hartmann said.

“She would apologize,” she said. “I can’t imagine many people being as flexible, saying: ‘I understand.’

“It’s a challenge for young moms. It’s a real catch-22.”