WalletHub study ranks Arkansas 44th in nation for working dads, cites challenges in child care, health

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A recent study found Arkansas ranking near the bottom of U.S. states for working fathers.

The consumer finance site WalletHub ranked Arkansas 44 out of 50 states and the District of Columbia for working dads. The study developed its scores by examining 21 key indicators, such as the length of the workday and child care costs.

The indicators were divided into four categories: economic and social well-being, work-life balance, child care, and health.

Economic and social well-being looked at things like median family income and the unemployment rate of fathers with children up to 17 years old, leaving Arkansas with a 43 score. The work-life balance category included parental leave policies and the state’s quality for working from home, ending with a 33 score for Arkansas.

The Child care ranking used indicators such as child care costs and the quality of the school system, rendering Arkansas with a 32 score. Executive director of the Gordon Career Center at Wesleyan University Sharon Belden Castonguay said child care is the biggest challenge for working families.

“This one factor [child care] affects several decisions, such as how much leave parents will take, who will take it, the length of a reasonable commute, and whether they are going to stay with or leave their employers,” Castonguay said. “While historically seen as problems for mothers alone, modern families see this as a puzzle to solve as a family unit.”

The study noted one of the largest challenges for Arkansas was children living in poverty, where the state ranked 49 out of a possible 51.

Finally, the health category looked at factors such as male uninsured rate and men’s life expectancy, generating a 50 rank for Arkansas, its lowest score in all categories and one above the lowest possible ranking.

Arkansas does provide child care assistance for low-income families through its Division of Elementary and Secondary Education .

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLRT - FOX16.com.