Young men are interested in working in the social sector - but there are hurdles

• The interest is there: 65.5 percent of the students surveyed are interested in social or educational topics.
• Earnings and working conditions as a hurdle: More than half of the respondents (54.1 percent) assume that the earnings opportunities are too low; 45.0 percent do not like the working conditions.
• Educator is the favourite among the social professions: 26.2 percent of those surveyed who would consider a social profession would most likely like to become an educator. 

 Erfurt, 2 March 2023. Male pupils in Germany are interested in social and educational topics. This is confirmed by the short study by IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU) "Social professions. What young men think about it.". Nevertheless, only 21.8 percent of young men would opt for training or studying in the social sector. For 51.3 percent of those surveyed, this would be rather out of the question or not at all. 

Not surprisingly, more than half of the students surveyed (54.1 percent) could be deterred from training or studying in the social sector by the fact that the earning opportunities are too low, and 45.0 percent do not like the working conditions. 

Nevertheless, for more than half of the respondents (53.0 percent), the challenges in social professions are not a reason against training or studying in the social sector. What others - such as friends or family - think about this career aspiration would not stop more than half of the respondents from starting training or studying in the social sector.  

Prof. Dr. Fabian van Essen, Professor of Special Education and Inclusive Education at IU International University of Applied Sciences is co-initiator of the study. He comments: 

"Although the potential is basically there and, according to the study, neither the opinion of others nor the demanding professional field is an obstacle, a social profession is out of the question for many male students. What could be the reasons? More school subjects on social topics are not needed, but many young men lack practical insights, e.g. through internships or job shadowing. A core problem is the discontinuation of community service, which used to socialise young men for social and educational professions. Nowadays, many men lack this opportunity to get to know this field."

Hardly any male role models

 According to the study results, there are also hardly any male relatives or acquaintances who work in the social sector and could inspire or socialise young men for social professions: It is true that 64.3 percent of the respondents say they know one or more people who work in the social sector. However, 65.6 percent of these acquaintances or relatives are female. Only 13.1 percent of the young men said that their father or grandfather worked in this field. 

Statistics also confirm the high proportion of women: According to figures from the Federal Employment Agency (*), more than 70 percent of those working in the social sector are women. 

But according to the IU study, this high proportion of women does not have too much of an impact on the image that male students have of social professions: Only 24.4 percent of the students surveyed agreed with the statement that "social professions are more suitable for women than for men". 

"As the study's stereotype check shows, the high quota of female professionals does not seem to necessarily lead to young men thinking that social professions are typically women's professions. And yet children and young people need both male and female role models in education and social work. This concerns gender, but also other dimensions, such as disability, migration background or sexual orientation," says Prof. Dr. Fabian van Essen.

Educator as a career is a favourite among young men

There is a shortage of staff in day-care centres throughout Germany and the proportion of men in day-care centres is negligible (**).Yet according to the IU study, it is precisely the profession of educator that is very popular among the students surveyed: among the 21.8 percent of those questioned who would consider training or studying in the social sector, 26.2 percent would be most likely to choose the profession of educator. In second place, with 25.4 percent each, is the profession of educator or social pedagogue. Less interesting are professions such as media educator (14.6 percent) or school support worker (13.1 percent). 

About the study

In the IU short study conducted in October 2022, 620 male pupils were interviewed. Among the respondents were “Hauptschule” students, “Realschule” students, “Fachoberschule” students and “Gymnasium” students. 

The factsheet on the IU short study is available here.

 (*) Statistics of the Federal Employment Agency, Reports: Focus on the Labour Market - The Labour Market Situation of Women and Men, Nuremberg, July 2022, p. 14.

(**) Male professionals in childcare in Germany by 2022, Statista 2022. 

Picture material of the speaker:  

Prof. Dr. Fabian van Essen, Professor of Special Education and Inclusive Education at IU International University

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