“We don't do it for the money” … The scale and reasons of poverty?pay among frontline long?term care workers in England

Demographic trends escalate the demands for formal long- term care (LTC) in the majority

wages, the actual scale of which is less well known. This article investigates the scale

reasons behind persisting low wages in the sector. The analysis makes use of large

with key stakeholders in the sector. The analysis suggests that there are at least

National Minimum Wage in England. Thematic qualitative analysis of 300 interviews

of low pay: the intrinsic nature of LTC work, the value of caring for older people, and

marketisation and outsourcing of services.