Joblessness increased to 19% in August
![Joblessness increased to 19% in August]()
Joblessness increased to 19% in August
![Joblessness increased to 19% in August]()
Respondents faced increased difficulty affording regular household expenses.
Respondents faced increased difficulty affording regular household expenses.
Source: La Alianza surveys, NDWA Labs
Released: September 1, 2023
The Domestic Workers Economic Situation Report analyzes the economic situation of domestic workers and is released on the same day as the US Bureau of Labor Statistics monthly Jobs Report. Based on weekly surveys with thousands of Spanish-speaking domestic workers across the country, these reports cover jobs, wages and food and housing security.
The most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics Jobs Report shows job growth in August which came in slightly above market expectations. The general unemployment rate increased, which this month was entirely due to higher labor force participation [1]. The unemployment rate for Latina women also increased.
NDWA Labs’ August data shows an increase to 19% in joblessness for surveyed domestic workers. Joblessness had decreased steadily in 2023 but has increased by 3 percentage points since June. It remains over twice the rate of 9% who reported having no jobs before COVID-19 [2].
Domestic workers are the nannies, home care workers, and house cleaners whose work is essential to our economy, and yet they are one of the most vulnerable and marginalized groups of workers. They work in private homes, and often have multiple employers. This means they may have to schedule several jobs in a given week in order to make ends meet. Domestic workers earn less than the average US worker and are three times as likely to be living in poverty [2].