What shapes the pathway of becoming an elderly care worker? Young Workers’ perspective

Abstract

Elderly care is becoming a much more recognised job in an ageing society. The aim of this article is to reveal how young workers in elderly care describe and interpret the process of entering the field of elderly care and provide insights into how this knowledge could support the development of strategies for youth involvement in the sector. The study, based on a qualitative research strategy, developed the concept of the pathway leading young workers (both men and women) to elderly care work. The concept consisted of three sections in the pathway: points of departure, societal filters that either push or hinder entering elderly care work and preconditions/factors that are important in the process of choosing the work. A gender gap exists in each section of the pathway to this career choice. The results of the study not only reveal the variety of factors influencing job choice in a comprehensive manner but also emphasise the importance of analysing these factors within the context of personal identity and professional fulfilment searches.