Samples of Proprietary Data and Research

Household Service Loss

Based on Composite Studies of Time Spent Per Week By Category And Dollar Value Data for Each Category – 2022 BLS Baseline Data Updated to BLS Release of February 10, 2026-Year Over Year Increase December to December: 2023, 2024, 2025
Task Hours Per Week1
Weekly Value
Women Men Wage/Hr.2 Women
Men
Cooking/Meals 7.7 1.2 $16.39 $126.20 $ 19.69
Meal Cleanup 4.9 3.6 $16.35 $80.12 $58.86
Indoor Cleaning 6.5 2.6 $16.84 $109.46 $43.78
Outdoor Maintenance 1.7 2.7 $20.18 $34.31 $40.36
Laundry/Clothing 4.5 1.8 $24.43 $109.94 $43.94
Purchase/Budget Mgt 5.5 2.9 $41.29 $227.10 $119.74
Medical Care 1.7 1.5 $16.75 $28.48 $25.13
Repairs/Auto Services 1.3 1.7 $26.68 $34.68 $45.36
Services/Transport 1.7 1.5 $20.85 $35.45 $31.28
Admin/Clerical 2.8 1.9 $22.59 $63.25 $42.92
Total: 38.3 21.4 Weekly Value: $848.99 $471.06
Annual Value: $44,147.48 $24,495.12
Child Care3 4.5 2.7 $15.66 $70.47 $42.28
Annual Value: $3,664.44 $2,198.56
Elder Care4 4.0 3.8 $17.22 $68.88 $65.44
Annual Value: $3,581.76 $3,400.80

Notes:

  1. However, it should be noted that the demographics of household services are changing as a result of both more women in the workforce and the work-at-home trends following COVID which have caused a growing convergence of time spent between men and women. An estimate from the National Insitute of Health estimates the women/men hour ratio to be 60/40; the ration indicated above is 64/36 closely approximating the NIH study.  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11177503/. There are other technological and demographic factors (such as AI, low birth rates, return-to-office) which will affect this ration going forward, but there is insufficient empirical data to determine the extent to which this relationship will change.
  2. The BLS data reported is for the general U.S. population. As a result the data does not address such potential variables as equal pay for equal work, variances by State resulting from mandated minimum wage by size of business, number of hours worked, or other factors.
  3. BLS base data (May 2023) for childcare was updated for the U.S. by applying general wage increases for 2024 and 2025. It should be noted that the $15.66 indicated above is only 2% less than the rate published by Zip Recruiter. It should be noted that the BLS data does not differentiate between infant, toddler, or age 6-17 care; for example, infant care is more expensive than for children over 4 years of age. It does not also account for the number of children being cared for at the same time by the same care giver, or by urban/non-urban locations, or by the caregiver type (e.g., babysitter versus day care institution.) Child care costs also vary significantly by State. For example, according to Urban Sitter the median of the rate range  in California for one child is $24.25, and $28.22 for two children.
  4. Reference: https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/elcare.pdf This is general data for the U.S. relating to  care of the elderly persons by within households. There are variances in the number of hours based on the age of the caregiver, the age and physical and mental condition of the person receiving the care, and other factors. For pricing data see:  https://www.bls.gov/oes/2023/may/oes311120.htm The median value provided by the last BLS reporting (May 2023) was updated to $17.22 in 2026.  It should be noted that the average hourly value posted for private business care is considerably higher ranging from $30 to $40 per hour.

Copyright: Dr. Joseph J. Penbera, PenberaParis, 2026

Thin Line Stripe Pattern 1