Cleaners by numbers

✱ In 2019, domestic cleaners and hygiene operatives numbered nearly 600,000. But this figure fell by 88,000 in 2020, owing to the impact of COVID-19.

✱ Cleaners contributed £54.5 billion to the UK economy in 2018 – turnover in the industry increased by 28% from 2013-2018.

✱ The average hourly rate for a cleaner is £9.31, for an average working week of 37.2 hours. The average hourly rate for employees across the UK is £15.15.

✱ A survey showed 61% of people felt reassured that safety measures were being taken seriously when they saw cleaners in public spaces during the day.