How Brexit Killed the UK’s Au Pair Industry
Families often relied on au pairs from Europe to solve their child care problems. It’s not so easy, anymore.
A woman pushes a stroller past Regent's Park, London.
Photographer: Isabel Infantes/AFP/Getty ImagesThe UK government is desperate to find a way to make child care more affordable and encourage more women back into the workforce. Yet tens of thousands of families had an alternative before Brexit that barely exists today.
Au pairs used to be the answer to several dilemmas. They provided child care at a reasonable price, flexible help around the clock, and a way for young people to learn new languages and experience a different culture. But few industries have been hit in the same way by the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union in Jan. 2020. Some agencies report that business has collapsed by as much as 95%, with stricter immigration rules for European citizens leaving families with few other options. It’s widely reported that families, especially women, have reduced their working hours to take on more child care duties due to the high costs of nurseries.