QUALITY EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION IS SERIOUS BUSINESS! All employers want a reliable supply of talent to fulfill their workforce needs. Employers want to attract and retain the very best employees, and also want their employees to be as productive on the job as possible. Access to affordable, high quality early care and education helps meet all three needs. High quality early learning environments help grow the workforce of the future. The availability of such care helps attract and retain employees with young families and employee morale—and it helps reduce absenteeism, tardiness, turnover, and productivity issues related to child care insecurity.