Why Black owned cleaning services matter.
a business case and a moral case
Black cleaners — those who perform residential, commercial, and post-construction cleaning work — form an essential part of the U.S. workforce. They bring skill, resilience, and community knowledge to jobs that keep homes, offices, and new builds safe and functional. Beyond being indispensable workers, Black cleaners are too often underrepresented in leadership, underpaid, or overlooked for training and advancement. For Successful Labor Marketing Corp (SLMC), centering Black cleaners is both the right thing to do and a smart business strategy: diversity strengthens teams, improves reputation, and expands customer reach when communicated authentically. McKinsey & Company+1
The scale of the cleaning industry — opportunity and responsibility
The cleaning services market is large and growing. Globally, the cleaning services market was estimated at roughly $416 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow strongly over the next several years. The U.S. commercial cleaning sector alone is a multibillion-dollar industry, and the post-construction cleaning segment is reporting robust growth as new construction and renovation activity increases. These figures mean the industry can and should invest in fair wages, training, and representation to ensure long-term, sustainable growth. Grand View Research+2Cleaning In Motion+2
Facts & figures you should know
Median hourly wage for janitors and building cleaners: $17.27 (May 2024, BLS). This shows cleaning is often lower-paid work despite its essential nature. Bureau of Labor Statistics
U.S. labor force composition (2023): Black or African American workers comprised about 13% of the labor force — representation in specific occupations varies, and cleaning jobs include a high percentage of workers from underrepresented communities. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Structural wage gaps persist across occupations; policy and employer-level actions are needed to address racial and occupational pay inequities. (IWPR analysis on occupational wage gaps). IWPR
Use these statistics on your site’s “About” or “Why We Care” pages to ground advocacy in data — pages that other sites cite are link magnets.
Why representation matters — more than just optics
Operational excellence & cultural competence. Diverse teams (including racial diversity) bring varied problem-solving approaches and better service for diverse clients — important when your work spans residential neighborhoods, multicultural commercial clients, and community-sensitive post-construction projects. McKinsey & Company
Retention & reduced turnover. Workers who see pathways for training and promotion stay longer. Investing in upskilling Black cleaners reduces hiring costs and protects institutional knowledge. (This is part of the broader DEI business case.) McKinsey & Company
Community trust & business development. Companies that fairly represent and pay their cleaning staff earn stronger referrals in local markets — an advantage for local SEO and word-of-mouth.
Ethical reputation & compliance. Fair hiring and compensation practices reduce legal risk, strengthen brand trust, and meet growing consumer expectations for socially responsible companies.
