European Union domestic work sector employs over 10 million people

More than 10 million people work in personal and family services across Europe, accounting for approximately 4% of total European employment. These findings were presented at a conference held at the European Parliament in Brussels, organized by Assindatcolf and the European Federation EFFE.

In Italy, there were 804,464 regular domestic workers in 2025, representing a 2.3% decrease from the previous year. The sector's irregularity rate in Italy is estimated at 55.4%.

Data from the PHS Employment Monitor 2026, which surveyed over 8,000 respondents across 36 countries, highlights key priorities for Italian employers. The most significant concerns include making services more economically accessible (36.2%), easing regulations for hiring immigrant workers (35.4%), and ensuring a better-trained workforce (35.3%). Other priorities mentioned include greater institutional recognition of domestic work and increased ease in declaring employment.