Nursery World - Distrust keeps men out of nursery jobs

One in ten parents would not place their child in a setting which employed a male childcare worker, according to a survey published by the Daycare Trust to coincide with National Childcare Week. Public perceptions that childcare is 'women's work' and fears of paedophilia as well as low pay and the status of the profession were the main barriers to men working in the sector, the MORI survey found.

Public perceptions that childcare is 'women's work' and fears of paedophilia as well as low pay and the status of the profession were the main barriers to men working in the sector, the MORI survey found.

Less than three per cent of the current childcare workforce is male, and the survey revealed that seven in ten adults - predominantly those under 55, and parents - thought there should be a higher proportion of men working in childcare. Eight per cent believed there should be fewer men working in the sector.

Stephen Burke, director of the Daycare Trust, said, 'Clearly the public favour men working in childcare and recognise the benefits for children of having positive male role models and a mixed gender environment in childcare settings. But fear of suspicion and distrust, together with low pay, is preventing more men following this career path.'

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