Where Have All the Janitors Gone? – 3 Major Trends Affecting Janitorial Hiring

October 15, 2024

Many industries are currently facing a labor shortage, with the janitorial sector being one of the hardest hit. Despite recovery in some areas of the economy, lower-wage industries like janitorial services continue to struggle with hiring challenges due to the lingering effects of the pandemic. Below, we explore three significant trends contributing to the difficulty in finding and retaining janitorial staff.

Trend #1 – The Workforce Shift

The “Great Resignation” has been widely reported, with over 50 million workers quitting their jobs in 2022, following nearly 48 million the year before. By the end of October 2023, another 30.6 million workers had resigned. While this wave of resignations has slowed somewhat, the larger picture shows that hiring rates have consistently been higher than quit rates since late 2020.

In the janitorial industry, many workers have moved on to roles in other fields that offer better pay or benefits. This movement is better described as a “Workforce Shift,” where workers are choosing new career paths, leaving the janitorial sector with a labor gap that’s hard to fill.

Trend #2 – Legal Immigration Declines

Immigration has played a crucial role in supplying labor for low-wage industries, including janitorial work. However, Census Bureau statistics show that between 2020 and 2021, only 247,000 people were added to the U.S. population through immigration.

This is a staggering 76% drop compared to the 1,049,000 people added between 2015 and 2016. Since 38.2% of the janitorial workforce is made up of immigrants, this reduction in immigration is a major concern. If immigration levels don’t pick up, this shortage could worsen, further complicating efforts to fill janitorial positions.

Trend #3 – Challenges in Female Labor Force Participation

Even though female labor force participation is slowly increasing, significant challenges remain. During the spring of 2020, 3.5 million mothers left the workforce, dropping participation rates from roughly 70% to 55%. While many women have returned to work since then, the participation rate has not fully returned to pre-pandemic levels, nor has it reached the peak of 60.2% seen in early 2001.

A key factor for many women, cited by 27% in recent surveys, is the need to care for children or family members, which prevents them from re-entering the workforce. Given that more than 53% of janitorial workers are women, this trend presents a significant challenge for businesses trying to hire in this field.

How Companies Can Respond

Overcoming these staffing challenges in the janitorial industry requires a well-thought-out strategy. To attract and retain employees, companies need to focus on offering competitive pay, creating a flexible work environment, and building a positive, inclusive workplace culture. By addressing these trends head-on and adjusting their hiring practices, businesses can improve their ability to recruit and retain workers in this difficult labor market.