At present, the average childcare worker is young, white and female, a profile that is perpetuated by settings' recruitment procedures. But providers are going to have to reach out to a far broader range of people if they hope to avoid even greater recruitment problems as the sector continues to expand.
Single white females
At present, 98 per cent of nursery staff are female, with about 11 per cent aged between 16 and 19 and a further 30 per cent aged between 20 and 24 (2002/2003 Childcare and Early Years Workforce Survey - Day Nurseries and other Full-day Care Provision). But there are various problems associated with providers pinning their hopes on this group remaining the mainstay of the childcare workforce.
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Unlimited access to news and opinion
-
Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news
Already have an account? Sign in here