Nur Luft und Liebe? Zur Entlohnung sozialer Dienstleistungsarbeit im Länder- und Berufsvergleich

Abstract

Abstract By analyzing data from the European Labor Force Survey 2011 (EU LFS), we assess whether care work is always poorly paid or whether this only applies for particular occupations or countries. Our analyses of four different occupational groups in the sections education, child-care, health-care, and nursing across 21 countries show that assistant positions in the social service sector are indeed poorly paid. In contrast, specialist professionals in social services mostly earn higher wages than employees with similar qualification profiles. Cross-country differences in care workers’ relative income have to do with the composition of the care workforce. After controlling for key individual level demographic and work characteristics, we find that country differences in care workers’ relative income – particularly for nonprofessionals and aides – are related to social expenditures, collective bargaining coverage, and the size of the informal sector.