The idea of working as an au pair remains very popular.

Although exchange programs such as volunteering, Work and Travel and internships abroad are popular among young Germans, they mostly prefer to work as an au pair. In 2015, approx. 12,000 international au pairs chose to come to Germany – 1,000 more than in 2015.

Is there any truth in the rumors about poor treatment of au pairs or about parties in the host parents’ house getting out of control? Is that the exception or the rule? And what about au pair placement in general? The survey “Au pairs in Germany and worldwide”, carried out by au pair insurer Dr. Walter, provides current data and information on au pairs and host families.

Au pairs’ countries of origin and places of residence

Of the total number of 12,000 au pairs, approx. 6,500 are European, mostly from Spain, Italy and France. In addition, there are many au pairs from outside the EU: in 2015, German embassies granted visas to more than 5,000 au pairs, an increase of 500 compared to last year. The majority of these au pairs come from the Ukraine, Georgia or Nepal; becoming an au pair in Germany is also popular among young people from China, Tanzania or Indonesia.

When it comes to host families, there is a north-south divide in Germany: most au pairs live in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. Nevertheless, having an au pair is no longer just an upper-class thing. Where only families who are better off used to have au pairs, nowadays also more and more average earners can afford this type of care for their children.

The many benefits of au pair placement

Although, at first glance, exchange programs such as volunteering, Work and Travel and internships abroad offer more independence and adventure, the idea of working as an au pair remains very popular among young people. The different programs address different needs: the benefits of being an au pair include integration into the real life of a host family as well as security and low living expenses. In addition, there are also new forms of au pair placement, such as Granny or Professional Au Pair.

Strong competition among au pair agencies

Since host families and au pairs need to fulfil certain requirements and simply need to be a good match, there is only a limited number of au pair agencies. Usually, only a few large agencies benefit from the increasing demand from foreign au pair applicants and German host families. As a result of unrealistically high expectations and the opportunity to easily find a new au pair or host family online, the number of cancelled placements in case of a conflict between them has also risen.

Comprehensive data source

As one of few sources on au pair placement in Germany, the survey “Au pairs in Germany and worldwide” provides comprehensive data. It is based on the results of a representative survey among 55 au pair agencies as well as interviews with au pair experts. The business survey is carried out annually by insurance expert Dr. Walter and published by Calypso Verlag. 

For a free download of the full survey conducted by Dr. Walter, go to this link.