Denver International Airport explores childcare options to address employee shortages

Denver International Airport is assessing the feasibility of offering childcare to its 43,000 employees while preparing to open a 20-spot drop-in center early next year at its Center of Equity and Excellence in Aviation. The initiative follows an airport survey of 1,000 employees showing that more than half of parents with young children have considered quitting or reducing hours due to childcare challenges, with 84% altering work hours and nearly 75% reporting tardiness or early departures.

An analysis of 21 ZIP codes housing over half of the airport's badged workforce revealed that licensed facilities meet only 11% of infant demand and 21% of toddler demand. In the nearby 80249 ZIP code, available capacity covered just 5% of infants and 9% of toddlers.

Airport officials are working through the final phase of a study with the Denver nonprofit Executives Partnering to Invest in Children to evaluate logistics, capacity, and operating costs. Because airport shifts include early morning departures, overnight hours, and irregular schedules, officials noted any final model must operate outside standard business hours. Current planning focuses on establishing a childcare site near the airport grounds.