Last week, NatCen published new research (as part of a programme of work with EPI and funded by the Nuffield Foundation) which, once again, highlighted the challenges of working in the early years sector.
The good news is that many early years workers said they entered the profession because of a love of early years and working with young children. But, as we’ve heard so many times before, many are being pushed out of the job they love due to a combination of low pay, increasing workload and low status.
Consistent with previous EPI research, which found that early years staff have experienced a real-terms pay cut since 2013 and around 44.5 per cent are reliant on in-work benefits to top up their wages, this latest research finds that low pay is a significant factor in driving people out of the profession. Some workers said the challenges of supporting their own families on the salary of a childcare worker were too great and meant staying in the sector was not a long-term career option.
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