5 Key Takeaways from the 2022 Household Employment Survey

GTM Payroll Services recently conducted its annual household employment survey. We ask families with household help about their experiences hiring and retaining their nannies. The results reveal trends in household employment and offer insights for families to make smarter hiring decisions and develop strong relationships with their nannies.

Here are five takeaways from our 2022 household employment survey.

1. Significant pay increases for nannies

It’s no secret that the demand for nannies has skyrocketed due to a number of factors like a preference for in-home care after the pandemic and limited availability in daycare facilities. This has led to some significant pay increases for nannies and for families seeking to keep their current caregivers.

In fact, 30 percent of families say that they have increased their nanny’s hourly rate by $4 or more in the last three years.

Takeaway: Families should evaluate their nanny’s pay rate – at the very least on an annual basis – to make sure it’s still competitive in the marketplace.

2. Important of vaccination status for nannies

Last year families rated “vaccinated for COVID-19” as 7.5 on a scale of 1-10 for important qualities when hiring a nanny. As COVID-19 lingers with new variants still causing health concerns, that jumped to an 8.6 in this year’s survey. It’s now the fourth most important quality a family is seeking in a nanny behind “demonstrated responsibility and trustworthiness,” “personality fit,” and “passion for childcare,” which remain the top three from last year. In addition, only 16 percent of families said they would hire a nanny who was not vaccinated for COVID-19.

Also, 82 percent of families said they have required their nanny to be vaccinated for COVID-19 as a condition of employment. In 2021, that number was just 36 percent.

Takeaway: Even in a tight job market, families still prefer – and may require – nannies who are vaccinated against COVID-19.

3. More nannies receiving health care benefits

In 2022, 26 percent of nannies are receiving some type of health care benefits (health insurance, health reimbursement account, or virtual medicine) from their employers. In 2021, just 16 percent of nannies had health benefits through their jobs. As we continue to deal with the current health crisis, nannies are likely now more aware of the importance of receiving health care. Learn more about health benefit options for nannies.

Takeaway: Offering health care benefits can elevate a family as they compete for their most desirable nanny candidates or retain their top employees. 

4. More families using agencies to hire nannies

Half of the household employers surveyed said they used an agency to find their current nanny up from 35 percent in 2021. Those using a paid nanny search website remained relatively flat at 24 percent.

Ninety-three percent of families said that “security/screening of candidates” was a top three reason (along with “time savings and hassle-free process” and “quality of candidates”) to work with an agency.

It’s also worth noting that nannies found through social media (like a Facebook group) increased to seven percent in 2022 (from just two percent last year).

Takeaway: Using an agency can provide peace of mind (and time savings) when searching for someone to care for your child in your home.

5. Increase in responses of unqualified candidates from paid nanny search websites

In 2022, 71 percent of families said the “number of responses from unqualified candidates” was one of the things they liked least about using a paid nanny search website. That’s up significantly from 50 percent in 2021. Forty-three percent cited the “quality of candidates” as what they liked least about going online to find a nanny, an increase from 14 percent in 2021.

Takeaway: Using a paid search website may seem like an easy and efficient way to find a nanny but with the number of unqualified or poor-quality candidates, it may actually lengthen your hiring process.

GTM can help

However you hire a nanny, GTM Payroll can help with your payroll and tax responsibilities. We make payday easy with direct deposit and automated payroll processing. And taxes are remitted on time, every time… 100% guaranteed*! To learn more or ask questions about employing a nanny in your home, call (800) 929-9213 for a complimentary, no-obligation consultation with one of our household employment experts. Or schedule time with us at your convenience.

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* OUR GUARANTEE: If you receive a notice from the IRS, or any other tax agency, based on a filing that GTM Payroll Services made, we’ll work with the agency on your behalf to resolve the issue. If we’re at fault, we’ll pay all the associated penalties and fines.