That is the message of a report released this past week by the Utah Office of Work and Family Life, a message the state's Department of Workforce Services wants legislators to hear. We, too, hope they listen.

The report shows the child-care industry pumps $819 million a year into Utah's economy, provides employment for 8,000 care-givers and allows 24,800 working parents to hold the jobs that support their families. The dark side of the picture is that child-care workers are some of the lowest-paid employees in the state, there are not enough regulated child-care facilities and the state is not taking advantage of federal money that could improve their availability and quality.

Work and Family Life Director Lynette Rasmussen hopes that convincing the Legislature of how important day care is to the state's economy might prompt the lawmakers to allocate tax money so the state won't continue to miss out on $12 million of matching federal funds from the Child Care Development Fund. An appropriation of $4.8 million in state money or donations is needed in order for the state to collect nearly triple that amount from the federal government. To let that money get away is irresponsible government.

Presenting child care as a necessary social service hasn't loosened state purse strings, and that could be a result of cultural attitudes regarding parents who work. The ideal family situation, many believe, is to have young children cared for at home by their parents.

But that ideal runs up hard against the reality in Utah that both parents work in 55 percent of two-parent families, and more than 80 percent of single parents work. Child care for them is not a choice but a necessary part of life, as much as health care and education.

The agencies also hope to point out to business owners the advantages of having happy, productive employees who can concentrate on their work because their children are being well taken care of at an onsite day-care center or by parents who have flexible work schedules or are allowed to telecommute.

If those options are not feasible, the business community should at least support state assistance for day care so employees can count on high-quality, reliable care for their children. It's a good investment for everyone.