Well-educated male au pairs are increasingly popular among families in Beijing. Employers find males versatile and easy to communicate with. An increasing number of male college students having started accepting au pair jobs.

After its first two male au pairs found employment as soon as they arrived at Beijing railway station, a domestic services company in southwest China's Sichuan Province sent four more higher-educated male au pairs to Beijing Monday. One of them was hired at a monthly salary of 1,800 yuan.

Song Rui, head of the domestic services company, said that two of the four newly-assigned au pairs are excellent college students, while the others are from Sichuan Higher Institute of Cuisine with professional experience of housework and cooking.

Full-time male au pairs can stay with children all day long, and their daily allowance is no more than the cost of two hours' private tutoring in Beijing, Song said.

Employers want au pairs with higher education to help their children study and also work in the house in their spare time. Male au pairs invariably get positive feedback in this kind of job.

Song said his company has sent 52 au pairs to work in Beijing, 70 percent of whom have found jobs. Male au pairs always find employment as soon as they arrive.

Song said that of the more than 200 college students that have registered with his company for au pair jobs, 10 percent are male students.

An increasing number of male college students now consider being an au pair an acceptable job, as the monthly salary in Beijing is nearly 2,000 yuan, attractive enough for people starting out on a career, said Song.

According to a survey recently released by the Communist Youth League of China and Beijing University, more than 66 percent of college students in China expect monthly salaries of between 1,000 and 2,000 yuan (125 to 250 U.S. dollars).

Editor: Wing