Domestic Housekeeper
Snapshot
Domestic housekeepers are responsible for all the household activities in a private house. They oversee and execute duties according to the needs of the employer such as cooking, cleaning and washing activities, taking care of children and gardening. They order supplies and are in charge of expenditures allocated. Domestic housekeepers may supervise and instruct household staff in large households.
Domestic housekeepers are vital to the smooth operation of private homes. Your daily tasks will vary depending on the employer’s needs, but generally involve a wide range of household duties. You’ll be responsible for maintaining cleanliness, preparing meals, and ensuring a welcoming and functional living space. This role requires attention to detail, reliability, and the ability to anticipate and respond to the household’s requirements.
- • Cleaning and maintaining all areas of the house, including dusting, vacuuming, mopping, and sanitizing.
- • Cooking meals and managing kitchen supplies, including grocery shopping and inventory.
- • Laundry and ironing of clothing and linens.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Figures cover Personal service workers — 86 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Cyprus, Czechia, Germany.
Longest-running shortage: Germany, 2 years.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
What these words mean
The four things this section reports
- Reported demand
- Whether employers report needing people in this job — a judgement published by a national or EU body, not a count.
- Where it is heading
- Which way employment in this job is expected to move over the coming years, from an official projection.
- Openings
- Roughly how many openings arise — from growth and from people leaving the job.
- Typical pay
- What people in this job typically earn where the source publishes it. Blank does not mean unpaid; it means nobody publishes it for that place.
A measure is left out when nobody publishes it for that place, rather than shown as zero.
Which way the market leans for you
- In your favour
- More openings than people looking — employers are competing for candidates.
- Balanced
- Openings and candidates are roughly matched.
- Competitive
- More people looking than openings — expect to compete.
- Mixed evidence
- Sources disagree, or the same occupation group is short in one part and oversupplied in another.
Every source resolves to one of these four, so there is a single vocabulary to learn. What differs is the evidence behind it, which is printed underneath each verdict — a measured ratio of openings to jobseekers, or an assessment published by a national body.
How this job compares with other jobs in the same country
- Strong
- Among the strongest in that country
- Good
- Stronger than most jobs in that country
- Mixed
- About typical for that country
- Weak
- Weaker than most jobs in that country
This is a rank within one country, not a score you can carry across borders — the registers behind two countries count different people, so the same number means different things in each. It is also why a job can be among the strongest in a country and still show as Competitive: it leads the field in a market that is crowded overall.
Where these come from
Every figure is published by a national statistics office, a public employment service or an EU body, and each card names its source and the period it covers. Some places are counted monthly, others assessed once or twice a year, so two places on the same map can be describing different moments — the date is always shown.
None of this predicts one person’s chances. It describes a market.
Reported demand · Typical pay · Where it is heading (United States, Ireland, Australia, Malta)
| Reported demand | Typical pay | Where it is heading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Not reported | $35,510 2025-05 | +0.4% 2024–2034 · BLS 2024-2034 |
| Ireland | Not reported | — | +16.7% 2023–2035 · Cedefop 2026 * |
| Australia | Assessed as balanced Jobs and Skills Australia 2025 * | — | — |
| Malta | Shortage reported ELA/EURES 2024 * | — | +1% 2023–2035 · Cedefop 2026 * |
* Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OEWS)
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Future Outlook for domestic housekeeper
The outlook for domestic housekeeper reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could domestic housekeeper change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
Model-based estimate. Use it as a planning signal, not a guarantee.
Compare this to your profile
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- work ergonomically
- supervise housekeeping operations
- manage schedule of tasks
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- control of expenses
- wash the laundry
- remove dust
Tasks most exposed to automation
- maintain inventory of cleaning supplies
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Healthcare & Human Services
A typical day as a domestic housekeeper
09 09:00 · Morning buy groceries
10 10:30 · Mid-morning identify customer's needs
12 12:00 · Midday maintain inventory of cleaning supplies
14 14:00 · Afternoon remove dust
15 15:30 · Late afternoon make the beds
17 17:00 · Wrap-up monitor kitchen supplies
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
What you need to do this work
The skills, knowledge and tools this role calls for — and the traits and rewards that come with it.
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remove dust
Remove dust from furniture, blinds and windowsills using specialised dust cloths or hand-cleaning items.
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vacuum surfaces
Use a vacuum cleaner to remove dust and small particles from floors, drapes, carpets or furniture.
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clean surfaces
Disinfect surfaces in accordance with sanitary standards.
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clean rooms
Clean rooms by cleaning glasswork and windows, polishing furniture, vacuuming carpets, scrubing hard floors, and removing garbage.
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make the beds
Clean sheets, turn mattresses, plump pillows and change cushions.
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wash the laundry
Wash or clean clothes by hand or by use of a washing machine.
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iron textiles
Pressing and ironing in order to shape or flatten textiles giving them their final finishing appearance. Iron by hand or with steam pressers.
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order supplies
Command products from relevant suppliers to get convenient and profitable products to purchase.
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buy groceries
Purchase ingredients, products and tools that are necessary for daily housekeeping activities.
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maintain inventory of cleaning supplies
Follow the stock of cleaning materials, order new material when the stock is empty and follow their usage to maintain a constant supply.
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supervise housekeeping operations
Oversee the day-to-day service and cleaning of rooms and public areas to ensure continuous operations.
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manage schedule of tasks
Maintain an overview of all the incoming tasks in order to prioritise the tasks, plan their execution, and integrate new tasks as they present themselves.
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maintain personal hygiene standards
Preserve impeccable personal hygiene standards and have a tidy appearance.
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work ergonomically
Apply ergonomy principles in the organisation of the workplace while manually handling equipment and materials.
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perform cleaning duties
Perform cleaning duties such as waste removal, vacuuming, emptying bins, and general cleaning of the working area. Cleaning activities should follow health and safety regulations if required.
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handle chemical cleaning agents
Ensure proper handling, storage, management and disposal of cleaning chemicals (CIP) in accordance with regulations.
lawn care
Procedures, equipment and products used to maintain the cleanliness of lawns and other grass surfaces in parks or residences.
- cleaning techniques
- dietary regimes
Path to become a domestic housekeeper
What it typically takes to qualify: education level, where it is a regulated profession, and where to study.
Primary education
89 programmes in 14 countries teach the core skills of this job. Plus 240 short courses that build single skills.
A few examples, taught in the language of this page:
Luksia · Finland
Valkeakosken ammattiopisto · Finland
These are 6 of 329.
Sources
- 1. Source: Opintopolku.fi (Finnish National Agency for Education)
- 2. Source: South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), All Qualifications and Unit Standards (allqs.saqa.org.za).
- 3. Source: Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (students.kuccps.ac.ke).
- 4. Source: Malta Qualifications Registry, Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (qualifications.mfhea.gov.mt).
Growth Pathways & Similar Roles
Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.
Where does domestic housekeeper fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
For organisations
The data on this page, working for your students, clients and staff.
Frequently asked questions
What skills are most important for a domestic housekeeper?
Can I be a self-employed domestic housekeeper?
What is the typical work arrangement for domestic housekeepers?
Is there a shortage of Domestic Housekeeper in Europe?
How much does Domestic Housekeeper pay in the United States?
Sources: ESCO O*NET ELA/EURES Cedefop BLS Data updated October 3, 2026 About our data