Many early years workers are finding it difficult to cover bills and are relying on credit to pay for essentials or replace appliances, reveals Nursery World’s cost-of-living survey.
According to the data, 55 per cent of early years staff are ‘struggling financially’, while 5 per cent are ‘on the breadline’.
At least 9 per cent are classed as living in poverty with a household income of less than £15,000 a year.
Our survey also reveals that having higher qualifications is no guarantee that costs will be easier to meet, with 39 per cent of respondents reporting that they hold a degree or higher.
A total of 115 people took parin our snapshot cost-of-living survey, which ran online from 6-13 October. Its aim was to examine the impact rising costs and high inflation are having on the early years workforce, one of the lowest-paid sectors in this country, on a par with the salaries of hairdressers and cleaners.
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