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Men are under represented in the care workforce
Rather than being seen as a male job, “being a carer is seen as a feminine job, but it is far from that!” says Eyad Hanash, head of operations at training provider Embark Learning Care Academy.
Men are currently under represented in the adult social care sector making up only 18% of the care workforce, according to statistics from Skills for Care.
However, Mr Hanesh, whose academy helps care workers achieve national qualifications, says “Three quarters of the applicants we have are women, but we are beginning to see an increase in men on our courses and this continues to grow every year.”
He says recruiting and retaining more men in the care sector will help with staff shortages and lead to a more diverse workforce, which can reflect the diversity of the men and women being cared for.
Breaking ‘ingrained stereotypes’
Mr Hanesh said the care academy and its recruitment partner Fairway Homecare are trying to break “stereotypes” by training more male care workers.
“For years, we have been trying to break down the ingrained stereotypes and deeply entrenched perceptions of health and social care as work for women by encouraging more males into the sector through our various recruitment approaches.”
The academy’s efforts are starting to pay off as Mr Hanesh says “this year the ratio of male to female is currently 27%, which is 9% above the national average”. This is an increase of 5% on last year. Its ‘Step into Care’ employment scheme is based in the West Midlands.
Mr Hanesh says: “It’s essential to recognise and support the male 50+ and youth demographics, as they play a vital role in the care workforce. We have worked with hundreds of men who now have a successful career in care.”
One such success story is Adrian.
Adrian’s story
Credit: Fairway Homecare
Adrian Lennon works as a healthcare professional at Fairway Homecare.
‘I am now in a career I absolutely love’
Mr Lennon told the home care provider’s Fairology, podcast in 2023 that his worries about finding work at his age disappeared, when the Embark Learning Care Academy helped him into a rewarding career.
“I was actually unemployed and I was actually on a computer course when I received a call from Embark.
“And at 49 I thought going back into care work would be pretty hard, obviously because of my age. The path that it led me to was a very rewarding one. I am now in a career that I absolutely love.”
David’s story
Then there’s David, who quit his job to become a full-time carer for his parents. David’s father was diagnosed with dementia and his mother was severely disabled.
He cared for his parents for more than 10 years until they both passed away within a year of each other.
David was unsure of what to do next with his life, when he discovered the academy at a job fair. He signed up for Embark Learning Care Academy’s training course and excelled. After completing his training, David was interviewed by Fairway Homecare, who gave him a job.
David also does not think of care work as ‘a woman’s job’ but a chance for a rewarding career.
Mr Hanesh added: “Perhaps we can change the perception around care workers primarily being women. It’s for anyone who wants an uplifting and satisfying job.”
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