Childcare in Italy among migrants: who gets what, and why?

Eleonora Mussino , Stockholm University
Livia Elisa Ortensi , Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna

The Italian welfare state is characterised by a preference for income transfers over transfers in kind and a marginal role for policies aimed directly at supporting the family through services. Italy invests a minimal amount of resources in providing formal childcare to small children, and only a limited proportion of children aged under 3 is enrolled in childcare services. In this context, births from a least one foreign parent increased over time and in 2019 accounted for 22% of the total births. Despite that, migrants in Italy are still seen as “suppliers” (nannies) rather than “consumers” (parents) of childcare services. Aspects related to the use of childcare by migrants and differences with natives in Italy are currently understudied in Italy. To fill this gap, we use the 2012 Birth Sample Survey. Mothers were interviewed about 18-21 months after the delivery: information on socio-demographic characteristics of both parents are collected, including use of, reasons not to, unmet need of use childcare services, and lack of access to the job market due to care work. Our study aims to understand patterns of childcare among migrants and differences with natives. We want to 1) understand patterns of childcare use, 2) the extent of unmet need for formal childcare, and 3) evaluate if barriers to formal childcare arise because family possibilities or due to the lack of available services. Finally, we want to study characteristics correlated to voluntary non-use of formal childcare. Preliminary results show that migrants use less paid childcare than natives do.

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 Presented in Session P1. Postercafe