Utilising skills demand opportunities to overcome the low professional status and attractiveness of a sector: the early learning and childcare sector in Scotland

This paper considers how a sector, which is perceived to have low attractiveness for potential employees, in terms of status, pay and conditions, can seek to attract a more diverse workforce through policies such as promoting skills development among existing employees and new recruits. It illustrates how strategic debates about skills demands and interventions focused on reducing skills and competencies shortages can be linked with a thorough analysis of the barriers that prevent people from engaging with the sector and considering it as a viable long-term career option. The insights presented in this paper are based on the data collected as part of the Erasmus funded REPLAY-VET project.