Who still cares? Gendered and classed ‘care trajectories’ into paid adult social care and childcare work

The decline of masculinised industries across the Global North is well documented; however, to date, there has been relatively little discussion of feminised paid care work in formerly industrial areas. Drawing on evidence of gendered and classed ‘care trajectories’ into paid adult social care and childcare care work in one such area, Teesside, North-East England, our findings show continuities with research documenting entrenched problems with low-paid, insecure work. We argue that greater recognition, increased valorisation and markedly improved care work employment conditions would bring wide-reaching benefits to places where they now comprise a large share of local employment.