‘An undervalued, under-appreciated profession, long hours, hard work, poor pay’. A study of the professional identity of BA ECCE graduates

Abstract

Drawing upon a Bachelor of Arts (BA) ECCE graduate occupational profile survey, this paper explores the experiences of graduates with particular reference to the relationship between graduate qualifications and professional identity within the early childhood care and education (ECCE) sector. While findings are positive in terms of the numbers of graduates who successfully gained employment, there is an underlying belief that ECCE is an undervalued profession with low wages. Findings also indicate that graduates tend to diminish their professional role and identity by stating that they have ‘ended up working in a crèche’. Such sentiments are clearly associated with a sectoral perception that graduates are overqualified to work in the ECCE sector.