Men in the English care sector

Caring for older people with disabilities is traditionally, and continues to be conceptualised as, female work, or as requiring female skills in most countries. Social norms and gender ideology ascribe different spheres of employment for men and women. While these factors are in place, considerable numbers of men and women are increasingly moving into gender atypical job roles. In the UK, as a result of shortages of staff in the care sector, interest is growing in attracting non-traditional workers to the sector.In this issue of Social Care Workforce Periodical we attempt to examine some of these questions using the National Minimum Data Set for Social Care (NMDS-SC), March 2011. The data provide a wide range of information both in relation to individuals and organisations or providers of care. Using a range of univariate and multivariate analyses, including employing mixed-effect models, the NMDS-SC reveals important elements of the profile and specific contribution of men in the care sector.