An additional 37,000 workers will be unleashed into the labour market when the federal government’s near-universal childcare regime comes online in July at a cost of $4.7 billion over four years.

Despite pressure from women’s groups to bring the new subsidy scheme forward to help address chronic skill shortages as well as improve the economic status of women, the federal government has stayed put with its original July 2023 plan that will see families with a combined income of up to $530,000 receiving financial support for childcare costs.