The union's research showed that childcare costs have risen by 52% per week since 2008 for families with one full-time and one part-time working parent. Over the same period their wages have gone up by just 17%.
The situation is worse for lone parents. Childcare costs for a single mother or father working full time have risen seven times faster than earnings, the research found.
Childcare fees in England are now on average £236 a week for a child under two in nursery, compared to £159 back in 2008. They are now £232 a week on average for a child over two in nursery, compared to £149 in 2008.
The union found this means families are left with a £4,700 annual shortfall, even after government support (including free nursery hours for some working families and the new tax-free childcare schemes).
For a family with a three-year-old and a one-year-old, the research found that where one parent is working full time and another working part time on average earnings, they have to pay more than £4,700 to cover fees. A low-income working family (with a parent working full time and a parent working part time) needs to find nearly £2,000 a year, while a single parent on average earnings (working full time) pays just over £6,000.
Over the past 10 years the growth in nursery fees for families with a full-time and a part-time working parent has outstripped wages the most in the West Midlands (8.7 times faster), followed by the South East (4.5 times faster) and the North East (4.8 times faster).
The TUC has made a number of recommendations, including subsidised childcare that would start as soon as maternity leave finishes, as well as more government funding for local authorities to provide nurseries and childcare. It also called for employers to play a greater role in funding childcare, and an increase to childcare support provided by tax credits and Universal Credit.
“Working parents have seen childcare fees rocket, as their wages have stagnated. Despite government support, families still face eye-watering nursery bills," said TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady.
“Britain’s cost of living crisis is having a huge impact on working mums and dads.”
Ellen Broomé, CEO of Coram Family and Childcare, said that high childcare costs mean that many working parents have been unable to work. “Successive governments have rightfully invested in childcare but, while this investment has been welcomed, many parents remain frozen out of work because of high childcare costs,” she said.
Broomé added that offering high-quality childcare has both personal and economic benefits, and said the issue should be addressed urgently.
“We know that high-quality childcare boosts children’s outcomes, benefits the economy and allows parents to make genuine choices about work and care. But in the past year alone childcare costs have risen by 7%. Urgent action is needed to make sure all parents are better off working after paying for childcare.”
