The wage distribution continued to improve during the first quarter of 2024.
Source: La Alianza surveys, NDWA Labs
Released: April 10, 2024
The Domestic Workers Economic Situation Report analyzes the economic situation of domestic workers and is released on the same day as the US Bureau of Labor Statistics monthly Jobs Report. Based on weekly surveys with thousands of Spanish-speaking domestic workers across the country, these reports cover jobs, wages and food and housing security.
The most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Employment Situation Report shows job growth above market expectation in March, and the general unemployment rate ticked down. [1]
NDWA’s March data shows a decrease to 15% in joblessness for surveyed domestic workers. Joblessness has decreased for four consecutive months. While this is within the lower end of joblessness rates we have seen since the pandemic began, it remains over the rate of 9% who reported having no jobs before COVID-19. [2]
Domestic workers are the nannies, home care workers, and house cleaners whose work is essential to our economy, and yet they are one of the most vulnerable and marginalized groups of workers. They work in private homes, and often have multiple employers. This means they may have to schedule several jobs in a given week in order to make ends meet. Domestic workers earn less than the average US worker and are three times as likely to be living in poverty [2].
La Alianza survey data from Spanish-speaking domestic workers shows how respondents continue to face low wages and high levels of unemployment and underemployment.