House Cleaner

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:

• 2006 NOC: Light Duty Cleaners (6661) 
• 2006 NOC-S: Light Duty Cleaners (G931) 
• 2011 NOC: Light duty cleaners (6731) 

Duties vary depending on what the customer needs and wants. In general, house cleaners do routine cleaning tasks each time they visit. They may do other cleaning tasks as needed, such as when people move.

Routinely, house cleaners:

• vacuum and wash floors and stairways
• dust furniture and household objects, such as picture frames, windowsills, door frames, light fixtures and baseboards
• clean kitchen surfaces, such as cupboards, appliances, counters and sinks
• clean bathroom surfaces, such as bathtubs, showers, toilets and mirrors
• empty wastebaskets and replace garbage bags
• maintain cleaning supplies and equipment provided by the cleaning company
• record and handle invoices and cash or cheques
• record schedule information
• provide a daily report to the cleaning company.

Occasionally, house cleaners may:

• wash walls
• clean inside cupboards and closets
• clean inside appliances
• wash the inside of windows.

House cleaners usually work Monday to Friday starting at about 8 a.m. They work until the day’s assignments are done. This is usually between 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Self-employed house cleaners often work alone. Cleaners employed by house cleaning companies often work in teams of 2 or more. They may drive a company car or their own car from home to home. House cleaning teams usually clean 3 to 4 homes a day. Solo cleaners visit fewer homes during a single day. Most of the time, the company provides cleaning supplies and equipment.

Some house cleaning duties are physically demanding. They may involve standing for long periods of time. They may include climbing step ladders, bending and stretching. There are many repetitive movements. 

House cleaners need:

• good health
• stamina
• an ability to follow written and oral instructions
• organizational skills
• customer service skills
• an ability to work co-operatively with others
• an ability to work with little supervision
• an ability to safely operate a vehicle
• an ability to find addresses.

They should enjoy:

• having clear rules and guidelines for their work
• using cleaning materials and equipment.

House cleaners may be self-employed. Others are employed part time or full time by residential cleaning service companies.

House cleaners may move into related occupations such as housekeeping attendant and institutional housekeeper. In larger companies, cleaners may rise into supervisor or office positions.

House cleaners are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 6731: Light duty cleaners. In Alberta, 81% of people employed in this classification work in the following industries:

• Business, Buildings and Other Support Services [pdf]
• Accommodation and Food Service [pdf]
• Health Care and Social Assistance [pdf].

The employment outlook [pdf] in this occupation is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

• trends and events that affect overall employment, especially in the industries listed above
• location in Alberta
• employment turnover (when people leave existing positions)
• occupational growth (when new positions are created)
• size of the occupation.

In Alberta, the G931: Light Duty Cleaners occupational group is expected to have an above-average annual growth of 2.3% from 2016 to 2020. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 702 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.