Domestic workers earn just 53% of what other employees make globally, down from 56% in 2019, ILO estimates show

Domestic workers earn 53.3% of the average monthly wages of other employees, a decline from 56.4% in 2019, according to new estimates by the International Labour Organization (ILO) on October 27. The wage gap between domestic workers and other employees continues to widen, with millions of domestic workers lacking effective labor and social protection.

Informal domestic workers face an even greater disadvantage, earning only 48.7% of the average wages of other employees. Women make up 77.2% of domestic workers and earn an average of just 48% of the monthly wages of other employees. Domestic work remains essential, providing services such as cleaning, cooking, and caring for children, older people, and those with disabilities.

Despite an increase in the number of domestic workers globally, their relative wages have not necessarily decreased, as many workers see slower wage growth compared to other employees. Informality is widespread, with 66.5 million domestic workers (83.1%) lacking formal labor and social protections. The highest concentration of domestic workers is in Asia and the Pacific, followed by Africa, where informality remains nearly universal among domestic workers.

The ILO emphasizes the need for stronger implementation of the Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (No. 189) to provide effective protection and improve working conditions for domestic workers, particularly women.