Every day, all across Europe, millions of people rely on the dedication of Personal & Household Services (PHS) workers, who provide care or domestic support for people in their homes. PHS workers perform many diverse and essential tasks, from caring for children, the elderly, and disabled people, to the activities of daily household life such as cooking, cleaning, gardening, and more.

Accounting for an estimated 4% of total employment in the EU1 , the PHS sectors are essential…

Despite the importance of the PHS sectors, it is difficult to obtain a clear picture of the day-to-day realities of their operation…

In an effort to overcome this information gap, and to shed light on these critical sectors, in 2024 the EU Social Partners for Personal & Household Services launched the first ever PHS Employment Monitor (PHS Monitor, the Monitor) – a comprehensive survey aimed at the three pillar groups of the sector…

The picture that emerges is of a set of interconnected challenges, all stemming fundamentally from a lack of recognition of PHS work and the PHS sectors. The issue of recognition can be divided into two highly interrelated parts: recognition at the formal and legal level, and recognition of the value of the PHS for society, and for those who receive them…