Graduates entering domestic services sector by choice

Traditionally, domestic work is associated with basic household tasks such as cleaning, cooking, taking care of children and doing the laundry. For years, domestic work has been viewed as unglamorous, particularly in more conservative societies where domestic work is often seen as servitude and carries a negative connotation.

But thanks to rapid socioeconomic development and changes in family structure, the domestic services sector has been undergoing a profound transformation, with an increasing number of college graduates entering the field, bringing with them expert knowledge, skills and innovative thinking. These factors are driving the modernization of the sector.

But are college graduates "wasting" their talent by seeking employment as domestic workers? Or is their choice a rational response to evolving industry trends?

The transformation is not accidental. As people's living standards improve, they require better and specialized domestic services. From taking care of infants and tutoring children to health management and eldercare, the services offered by the sector have become increasingly complex, requiring workers to possess higher levels of education and specialized skills. This has not only changed the nature of domestic work, but also is driving the sector toward professionalism.

Today, domestic services no longer focus solely on cleaning and cooking. The National Development and Reform Commission, along with other departments, has jointly issued the guidelines on deepening the integration of industry and education in the domestic services sector, in order to link the education, talent, industry and innovation chains to optimize the quality and structure of the domestic services workforce and facilitate the high-quality development of the sector.

With strong government policy support, many universities have introduced degree programs in domestic services, offering both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, and even incorporating subjects such as sociology and management into the syllabus.

The government's emphasis on domestic service education is not only guiding society toward greater recognition of the industry, but also helping build a more scientific and standardized future for it. This shift means college graduates now have wider career opportunities.

The entry of college graduates into the domestic services sector is not an isolated trend but part of a broader shift toward career diversification. A modernized domestic services sector can create more jobs for college graduates and, at the same time, help broaden their professional trajectories. Specialization in different areas of domestic services has given rise to many more career paths. Domestic services are no longer only about labor-intensive chores; they also require knowledgeable and highly skilled people with technical expertise and managerial capability.

In fact, some college graduates, who have majored in education, psychology or health management, are playing key roles in family education, child counseling and eldercare.

As the domestic services sector becomes more specialized, the demand for professionals is rising. College graduates have a distinct advantage in the high-end domestic services market. They can use their skills in fields such as health management, child education planning and eldercare to offer quality services. For instance, some college graduates are already managing nursing homes, contributing to the sector's standardization, and improving its service quality.

The rapid expansion of the domestic services sector has also created a wealth of entrepreneurial opportunities. College graduates can now choose to start their own business in the domestic services sector, or take up organizational, management or marketing roles.

Unlike traditional domestic work, modern domestic work is focused on niche markets, such as home organization and family health consultation. College graduates can use their academic knowledge and innovative ideas to launch new services to meet emerging market demands. Some college graduates with major in home economics have already turned home organization into a business, creating new job opportunities.

From the national perspective, the entry of college graduates into the domestic services sector has brought multiple benefits. The ongoing modernization of the domestic services sector has created jobs for college graduates, who in turn are generating employment for their fellow graduates by starting a business or taking up management posts in domestic services companies, thus alleviating the employment pressure.

College graduates, thanks to their high educational qualification and innovative capability, are combining theory with practice to upgrade and improve domestic services. They have, for example, helped develop smart home technologies and domestic service robots, introduced cutting-edge technologies to the sector, elevating domestic services' social status.

Government policies, particularly those aimed at including domestic service programs in higher education, are helping improve talent quality. By nurturing professionals with both theoretical knowledge and practical experience, the government can better meet the public's increasing demand for quality domestic services.

The growth of the domestic services industry will also stimulate related industries such as education, training and smart home technology. As the demand for specialized domestic services increases, the sector will find new drivers of growth, contributing to the country's economic development.

College graduates entering the domestic services sector is not a waste of talent, but a logical response to the industrial and social changes. As the sector grows and gains social recognition and respectability, more college graduates are likely to seek employment in the sector. With the ongoing expansion of the industry and increasing public awareness, the sector could become an important driver of socioeconomic progress.

The author is executive associate dean of the School of Public Administration and Policy at Renmin University of China.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.