Just five years ago, hiring a nanny or housekeeper could take a family just a couple of weeks. Today, even affluent clients willing to pay above-market rates face an unexpected problem — there simply aren’t enough qualified candidates.
Why has this happened, and what can you do if you need a reliable and skilled household employee? Let’s break it down step by step.
1. The Global Staffing Crisis: Reasons You Can’t Ignore
1.1. Migration Shifts
Many professionals from countries traditionally known for strong domestic service culture (such as the Philippines, Indonesia, Ukraine, Moldova) are moving to wealthier nations where wages and benefits are significantly higher.
As a result, in cities like Moscow, Kyiv, or Dubai, competition for skilled domestic workers has skyrocketed.
1.2. The Impact of the Pandemic and War
The COVID-19 pandemic reduced the mobility of domestic staff: many returned to their home countries and could not come back due to visa or travel restrictions.
The war in Ukraine and political instability in certain regions have further decreased the influx of foreign workers.
1.3. Generational Shift
Fewer young people are choosing careers as nannies or housekeepers. The new generation prefers online jobs, gig economy work, or freelancing, which offer less physical labor and greater flexibility.
1.4. Growing Employer Demands
Modern employers expect “multi-skilled” domestic staff: a nanny who not only cares for a child but also supports early development, speaks a foreign language, and a housekeeper who understands eco-friendly cleaning and delicate fabrics.
Such specialists are rare — and the demand for them is enormous.
2. How This Affects the Market
- Rising Salaries — families are willing to pay 30–50% above average for experienced staff.
- Shorter Hiring Windows — good candidates don’t stay available for long: if you hesitate, someone else will hire them.
- Increased Role of Agencies — finding the right person “through friends” has become almost impossible.
3. Risks of a DIY Search in a Shortage Market
- Higher Risk of Fraud — in times of high demand, people with fake references become more active.
- No Skill Verification — “10 years of experience” on paper means nothing without proper proof.
- Wasted Time — an independent search can take months, while help is needed now.
💡 Fact: In a staffing crisis, every bad hire costs more than the fee for a professional agency.
4. How Families Succeed in Finding Staff
- They work with agencies with a real, vetted candidate database — with verified documents and psychological screening.
- They act quickly — hiring the right candidate immediately after a successful interview.
- They consider relocation — inviting staff from another country and handling visa arrangements.
5. How We Solve the Shortage Problem for Our Clients
Our agency works in crisis conditions using an expanded approach:
- Own international database — candidates from Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
- Closed recommendations — staff sourced through trusted contacts.
- Express selection — from request to placement in 3–7 days.
- Replacement guarantee — we take full responsibility if the employee doesn’t work out.
6. Forecast for 2025–2026
📈 Demand will continue to grow — families will increasingly seek specialists with unique skills (early childhood development, multilingual ability, large estate management).
📉 Supply will shrink — migration restrictions and younger generations avoiding the profession will remain in place.
Bottom line: Finding a reliable household employee will become even more challenging, and professional recruitment will be a necessity rather than a luxury.
The staffing crisis in domestic work isn’t a temporary phase — it’s the new reality.
Those who understand this now are already securing access to the best professionals, while others are just beginning their search.
📞 Contact us today — and we will find a trusted household employee for you who will stay for years, even in today’s shortage-driven market.
