Strong demand for cleaners
Demand for cleaners is high because:
- the occupation is large, with over 35,000 cleaners in New Zealand
- vacancies arise regularly as cleaners tend to stay in the role for a short time only, before moving to less physical and more regular work
- more cleaners are needed to service the growing numbers of workplaces that operate 24 hours a day
- demand for domestic/house cleaners is growing, with job advertisements increasing by 25% in the year to October 2018.
The average age of cleaners is 45, so more opportunities may arise over coming years as these cleaners retire.
According to the Census, 38,577 commercial and domestic cleaners worked in New Zealand in 2018.
Robots predicted to change cleaners' work rather than replace cleaners
Although sales of cleaning robots rose by nearly 40% between 2016 and 2017, robots are expected to change the way cleaners work, rather than affect their job chances.
Types of employers varied
Most cleaners work for:
- cleaning firms, which range from small businesses to large companies
- hospitals and schools.
Cleaners may also go into business on their own, or as part of a franchise.
