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Private Household Workers

THE JOB

PRIVATE HOUSEHOLD WORKERS may perform a single type of household task, such
as cooking or cleaning, or they may perform a wide variety of duties related
to the entire household and its occupants including gardening, chauffeuring,
and caring for children and pets on a full time basis.  The following job
descriptions cover the most common types of Private Household Workers.

Cooks plan menus and prepare meals in private homes, according to recipes or
tastes of their employer.  They peel, wash,  trim, and cook vegetables and
meats for eating, and bake breads and pastries.  Cooks also clean the
kitchen and cooking utensils, and sometimes serve meals.  In addition, Cooks
may prepare fancy dishes and food for special diets.  They may specialize in
preparing and serving dinner for employed, retired, or other persons and be
designated a Family-Dinner Service Specialist.

Yard Workers keep the grounds of a private residence in neat and orderly
condition.  They plant, apply fertilizers, spray pesticides, prune,
cultivate, and water flowers, vegetables, shrubbery, and trees.  They
seed and mow lawns, rake leaves, and keep grounds free of other debris.
Yard Workers paint fences and wash and polish automobiles.  Yard Workers
also clean patio furniture, straighten-up garages, and clean walkways.
Yard Workers may tend furnaces or groom and exercise pets.

General House Workers  keep private homes clean and orderly.  They plan,
cook, and serve meals according to their employer's instructions and wash
and clean silverware.  They keep the kitchen stocked with groceries and
household supplies. House Workers clean furnishings, floors, and windows,
and answer the telephone and the doorbell.  They may also oversee activities
of children, and assist them in dressing and bathing.

Child Care Workers attend and supervise the activities of children in 
private homes.  They amuse children by reading to or playing games with them
and help school-age children with their homework.  Child Care Workers
accompany children on walks or other outings, and keep children's quarters
clean and orderly. They also prepare and serve meals and dress or assist
children to dress and bathe.


Nannies generally take care of children from birth to age ten or twelve.
They tend to the child's early education, nutrition, health, and other
needs.  They may also help with general housekeeping duties.  Governesses
look after children in addition to other household duties.  They help
children with schoolwork and may teach them a foreign language.

Personal Companions and Attendants provide companionship for individuals who
are often elderly, handicapped, or recuperating. They attend to an
employer's personal needs and transact social or business affairs.  Personal
Attendants also read aloud and play cards or other games to entertain their
employers.  They may accompany the employer on trips and outings, and may
prepare and serve meals.

Chauffeurs drive private cars as directed by the owner or passengers and
perform various other tasks.  They assist passengers in entering and leaving
the car. Chauffeurs keep cars clean, polished, and in operating condition.
They may make minor repairs and adjustments, such as fixing tire punctures
and cleaning spark plugs.  They may also groom and exercise their employers'
pets.


WORKING CONDITIONS

Private Household Workers usually work in pleasant and comfortable homes or
apartments.  Many live in the home of their employer, generally with their
own room and bath.  Live-ins may work longer hours.  If they work evenings
or weekends, they may get other time off. Living in may separate them from
family and friends.  Day Workers live in their own home and travel to work.

Housekeeping is hard work.  Household workers are usually on their feet most
of the day and do much walking, lifting, bending, stooping, and reaching.
Also, some employers may be demanding.


EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK

With the growing number of dual career families and the aging population,
the demand for Private Household Workers outnumbers the supply of workers.
Therefore, job opportunities are expected to be excellent through 2005.
Persons who are well suited for this work should have no trouble finding and
keeping jobs.  The number of clients of domestic cleaning firms and child
care centers have soared because of the short supply of Private Household
Workers.

Even in poor economic times, many jobs will be available each year because
of the need to replace the high proportion who leave this occupation for
other types of work.


WAGES, HOURS, AND FRINGE BENEFITS

Earnings for Private Household Workers depend on the type of work, the
number of hours, household and staff size, geographic location, and
experience.  Most Private Household Workers are employed part time, or less
than 35 hours a week.  Wages range from Federal minimum wage to $10.00 per
hour depending on the geographical location.  Live-in Workers are provided
with room and board and usually earn more than dayworkers, however, they
often work longer hours.  Day Workers often get car fare and a free meal
from their employer.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median earnings in 1996 for
full-time Private Household Workers were:

Cleaners and Servants     $11,600
Cooks                     $11,100
Child Care Workers        $10,500
Housekeepers and Butlers   $7,500

Fringe benefits, such as medical and dental, and pension plans, are usually
not available for this type of occupation, though vacation pay and medical
benefits may be offered to live-in workers.


ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS AND TRAINING

Private Household Workers do not need any special training.  Most jobs
require the ability to clean, cook, drive, or take care of children.
Employers sometimes train the Private Household Worker to do the work they
want performed.  For Child Care Workers, a good general educational
background and the ability to get along with children are important
qualifications.

People interested in this type of occupation should take home economics
courses in high school, or cooking, child development, and elder care 
courses in vocational and adult education schools.  Courses in first aid and
nursing in vocational schools are also useful.

Private Household Workers must be discreet, dependable, courteous, neat, and
honest.  They also need stamina.  Where driving is involved, they must
possess a valid driver's license.


ADVANCEMENT

Advancement opportunities for this occupation are limited.  Advancement
usually consists of better pay and working conditions.  Workers may move to
similar jobs in hotels, hospitals, and restaurants, where the pay and fringe
benefits are better. 


FINDING THE JOB

Jobs may be found through direct contact with employers, newspaper ads, and
registration with private employment agencies.  Asking friends or relatives
about Private Household Worker openings is another valuable method of
finding employment.

Since employers may ask for local references, a Private Household Worker
should be able to supply the names and addresses of former employers.


ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION

English Nanny & Governess School
30 South Franklin
Chagrin Hills, OH  
1-800-733-1984
www.nanny-governess.com/

American Society of Nanny Schools
Delta College
University Center, MI  48710
(517) 686-9000
www.delta.edu/


RELATED OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES

Janitors and Cleaners         No.     88
Cooks and Chefs               No.     93
Gardeners and Groundskeepers  No.    320
Home Health Aides             No.    461
Child Care Workers (Aides)    No.    505


OCCUPATIONAL CODE REFERENCES

DOT (Dictionary of Occupational Titles, 4th Ed., 1991)
Houseworker, General   301.474-010
Child Monitor          301.677-010
Yard Worker            301.687-018
Cooks, domestic        305.281-010
Personal Attendant     309.674-014
Companion              309.677-010
Chauffeur              359.673-010

OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) System
Gardeners and Groundskeepers          790300
Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing (NEC)  799990
Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs           971140


Source: State of California, Employment Development Department,
        Labor Market Information Division, Information Services Group,
        (916) 262-2162.