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

Article

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.

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.

Related items

  1. The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, River Thames and Westminster Bridge

    Taxing choices: Taking the public’s temperature ahead of the budget

    The stakes for a government are rarely higher than at a budget. Every chancellor has dealt with this differently. Ken Clarke would draft his budget speech with cigars and whisky, Gordon Brown pored over every word in what officials called…
  2. Scottish parliament building at Holyrood and Calton Hill, Edinburgh

    Great expectations: Rejuvenating the national debate in Scotland

    Fresh IPPR Scotland polling shows that politicians must raise their game if next year’s election is a to be serious debate about the challenges facing Scotland and potential solutions. 
  3. A Black man in a bright orange high vis jacket and hard hat stands in the middle of a road holding a sign that says 'STOP - WORKS'

    Unfinished business: Redressing inequality in British policy and Black lives

    As conversations about race and equality continue to evolve, Black History Month remains a powerful invitation to pause, reflect, and recommit to progress.