China!  It is exploding day by day and dominating the world's economy.  How is their growth affecting the au pair industry?  In 2004, Au Pair in America, the first au pair agency to consider China as a potential source of foreign applicants, recruited their first Chinese au pair!  Since then, they have hosted over 1000 Chinese au pairs.

Now, in 2010, most au pair agencies have jumped onboard with their own Chinese recruiting programs, establishing agents near the most popular places where Chinese youth may apply for the cultural exchange program:  Peking and Bejing. Au pairs are recruited from the countryside, but their numbers are low.

We have posted several comments on this new trend in the au pair industry and our article, China and Its Au Pairs discusses the cultural and the potential highs and lows of hosting an au pair from this vast and unique country. 

What is the pull for American host families that desire an au pair from China?  There are several factors that influence the agencies who recruit Chinese au pairs. Agencies know their typical host family is middle - upper middle class and these parents desire influential and breaking trends for their children to become exposed to. 

China is one of them - the language, the economy and the overall effect China will have on the worldwide business community and on their children in the next 15-20 years will be huge!  Trendy and educated parents want their children exposed to Mandarin and they want the children to understand Chinese culture, in the anticipation their child may one day travel or work in China. 

Today, I read a piece online about Chinese parents who very much feel the same way middle and upper class American parents do - they want a piece of the America pie as much as we want exposure to Chinese culture!  Educated Chinese parents want their children exposed to English and they want their child comfortable with our culture and customs!

Interesting turn of events - this reflects, in part, the rising middle class in China, which is a good thing, and the demands for education and knowledge that is so important for the equally growing Chinese upper classes. 

These well-educated and well-heeled Chinese families have a thirst for learning beyond Chinese borders, and as a result there is no shortage of foreigners interested in coming to China.

"Since opening in 2007, the International Department of the Beijing-based HHS Center, a group dedicated to matching foreigners with Chinese families looking for au pairs and language teachers, has seen a consistent increase in applicants, bringing six au pairs to China in the second half of their first year, 28 in 2008 and 53 in 2009."

Now, manager Michael Xie, said the "...company is receiving between 120 and 150 foreign applications every month and around 400 families looking for an au pair have contacted their website."

To read the entire story, featuring a young 22-year-old young man from Texas working as an au pair for a Chinese family, click http://www.china.org.cn/china/2010-08/05/content_20646710.htm.

"The HHS Center is one of the first and largest companies in this growing industry. In June, the company implemented a new set of background checks for applicants, including criminal records, medical histories, character examinations and even a physical fitness requirement, Pile said. Many agencies around the world work together to foster au pair exchanges and Xie hopes China will establish an official au pair association to develop exchanges in the future."

Given the interest that Chinese parents have in hosting foreign au pairs and the rising influence of China on the world economy, many of you reading this may have a son or daughter that becomes an au pair in China!  Something to think about!

Any comments? 

Would you send your child to China as an au pair?