Working Overseas - Weak Economy Creating Strong Demand for Au Pairs

The latest figures from WYSE Travel Confederation show that the au pair industry is up 1.6% on the same period last year, as demand for flexible childcare continues to grow during the recession.

Good news for au pair organisations who gathered from all over the world at the industry’s annual conference recently!

Hundreds of organisations offering cultural exchange, working holidays, au pair placements, internships, gap years, and volunteer programmes met in Vienna, Austria, for the Work Experience Travel Market and International Au Pair Association Annual Conference.

Innovative new ideas for the au pair industry were discussed by governments and leaders - including the possibility of au pairs caring for the young and elderly - as aging populations present an increasing problem for many countries.

The demographics of au pairs themselves are also changing - as more young people both male and female - view it as a viable way of acquiring essential skills for the global workplace.

Take for example, the conference’s annual ‘Au Pair of the Year Award’ - won this year by a 24 year old Brazilian journalist called Ricardo - who used his time as an au pair in the US to improve his English language and get a real taste of American life.

Since 2004, the number of au pairs working in the United States has risen by 44% to 22,000 according to data from the U.S. Department of States. Members of BAPAA (the British Au Pair Agencies Association) also report an increase in the number of au pairs working in the UK this year, although no official figure exists.

WYSE Travel Confederation’s April issue of the 'Youth Travel Industry Monitor' found that youth travel organisations are responding to the recession with increased marketing and online initiatives, rather than by simply cutting prices.

WYSE Travel Confederation's 560 members in 120 countries serve 10 million youth and student travellers each year. The youth travel industry monitor is published every two months based on members' feedback of business trends worldwide. For more information visit www.wysetc.org


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