Hiring in today’s economy is proving difficult for many employers, especially in the janitorial field. While some areas of the job market are starting to stabilize, janitorial services and similar low-wage industries continue to deal with a worker shortage. This article breaks down three major trends that are creating roadblocks for hiring and keeping janitorial staff.

Trend #1 – Workers Are Repositioning, Not Just Quitting

Over the past few years, millions of people have left their jobs—over 50 million in 2022 and nearly as many in 2021. Though 2023 saw fewer resignations, with 30.6 million by October, the hiring rate has stayed higher than the quit rate since late 2020. This tells us something important: people aren’t necessarily dropping out of the workforce—they’re shifting into new roles. Many janitorial workers are moving to other industries with better wages or more appealing work conditions. Rather than a resignation, it’s a broad realignment, with low-wage jobs seeing the most impact.

Trend #2 – Immigration Drop-Off Shrinks Labor Pool

Immigrants have long filled a large portion of janitorial positions. But recent years have seen a steep decline in legal immigration. Between 2020 and 2021, only 247,000 people were added to the U.S. population through net migration—a huge drop from the 1,049,000 seen between 2015 and 2016. With immigrants making up over 38% of janitorial workers, this decrease has had a noticeable effect. Without an increase in immigration, the pool of available workers may continue to shrink.

Trend #3 – Women Face Barriers Returning to Work

Women, especially mothers, faced major setbacks in the workforce during the pandemic. In early 2020, 3.5 million women with children left their jobs, pushing labor force participation from about 70% to just 55%. Although many have returned, overall participation is still below pre-pandemic levels and has yet to match the high point of 60.2% from 2001. Among the most common reasons for not returning to work is the responsibility of caring for family—something reported by 27% of women surveyed. Since women make up more than half of janitorial workers, these barriers are affecting hiring efforts in a big way.

A Path Forward for Employers

If companies want to succeed in this tough hiring landscape, they need to act strategically. That means offering attractive pay, being flexible with schedules, and creating a workplace culture where employees feel valued. Understanding these labor trends is key to developing a hiring strategy that works. By adjusting to the current market, janitorial businesses can find ways to attract and keep the staff they need.