For Love or Money: Pay, progression and professionalisation in the 'early years' workforce

The first report from ippr's Working out of Poverty series highlighted the significant and growing problem of poverty among working people and their families. The aim of this report is to investigate how these issues play out in one particular low wage sector - the early years - highlighting both challenges that are common across low wage sectors and those that are distinctive to the early years.

Our analysis reveals the human stories and struggles that lie behind the statistics on pay and poverty. Our findings highlight the challenges for policymakers and deliverers seeking to raise both quality and wages. Our proposals suggest how policy could better realise fairness, opportunity and aspiration at work, while orientating this crucial sector of the economy towards both higher wages for workers and higher quality for children.