Who cares? Male and female careers in the health‐ and eldercare sector in Denmark

Abstract

This study investigates labour market fluctuations and gender issues in the health and care sector. A large data set from public registers has allowed us to compile a comprehensive picture of the job categories that particularly attract men. We find a polarisation of men in the upper and lower positions in the job hierarchy. In the metropolitan area, men tend to be discouraged from taking jobs in the health and care sector, as opposed to the peripheral region, where alternative job offers may be more scarce. A logistic regression analysis shows that (young) age is the major explanatory factor for leaving the health and care sector to find occupation elsewhere. However, gender (male), wage levels (low), marital status (single) and education (none) are also significant. The study discusses seven theoretical perspectives for male and female careers in the health and care sector: The need for flexibility. Destandardising of jobs. Devaluation of feminised work areas. Human capital as a stabiliser. Feminisation. The prospects of boundaryless careers. The spatial dimension.

Citation

Hjalager, A., Houman Sørensen, J. and Juul Møberg, R. (2005), "Who cares? Male and female careers in the health‐ and eldercare sector in Denmark", Equal Opportunities International, Vol. 24 No. 3/4, pp. 27-45. https://doi.org/10.1108/02610150510788051