Light Duty Cleaners

(NOC 6731)

in All Sales and Service

Light duty cleaners clean lobbies, hallways, offices and rooms of hotels, motels, resorts, hospitals, schools, office buildings and private residences. They work for hotels, motels, resorts, recreational facilities, hospitals and other institutions, building management companies, cleaning service companies and private individuals.

Job Outlook

Average

Read more

  • Estimate Strong growth employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 1045 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate Moderate rate of unemployment in 2022

Compared to: All Sales and Service

  • Estimate 10325 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 17495 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

The pandemic-related demand for this occupation created by additional sanitization requirements has subsided somewhat following the end of most containment measures. At the same time, opportunities are being created by the recovery of other sectors, such as the hotel industry. Employers in some parts of the province are experiencing difficulty recruiting for this occupation, so individuals looking for work as a cleaner should have little difficulty finding a position. Working conditions such as relatively low wages, the physical nature of the job, the need to travel to different work sites, and irregular or night-time hours may be contributing factors to a high rate of turnover and insufficient number of job applicants. Candidates may be required to have their own vehicle to travel between job locations.

Hourly Pay

$14.50

Minimum

$15.00

Median

$18.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

$2,876

Minimum

$15,619

Median

$34,253

Maximum

Compared to: All Sales and Service

Hourly Pay

$12.95

Minimum

$15.00

Median

$25.60

Maximum

Annual Pay

$2,949

Minimum

$16,629

Median

$45,086

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Light duty cleaners clean lobbies, hallways, offices and rooms of hotels, motels, resorts, hospitals, schools, office buildings and private residences. They work for hotels, motels, resorts, recreational facilities, hospitals and other institutions, building management companies, cleaning service companies and private individuals.

Job duties

Light duty cleaners:

  • Sweep, mop, wash, wax and polish floors.
  • Dust furniture and vacuum carpeting and area rugs, draperies and upholstered furniture.
  • Make beds, change sheets and supply clean towels and toiletries.
  • Complete guests' requests for extra supplies.
  • Stock linen closets and other supplies' areas.
  • Clean, disinfect and polish kitchen and bathroom fixtures and appliances.
  • Clean and disinfect public areas like changing rooms, showers and elevators.
  • Disinfect operating rooms and other hospital areas.
  • Pick up debris and empty trash containers.
  • Wash windows, walls and ceilings.
  • Report and store lost and found items.
  • May provide basic information on facilities.
  • May handle complaints.

Sample job titles

  • cleaner
  • hospital cleaner
  • hotel cleaner
  • house cleaner
  • housekeeping aide
  • housekeeping room attendant
  • light duty cleaner
  • office cleaner
  • sweeper

Skills

  • You should have good health, physical stamina, and manual dexterity. You must also be able to work on your own and carry out instructions given by a supervisor.

Job requirements

  • There are no specific education requirements for jobs in this group.
  • Certification for housekeeping room attendants or similar certification may be required by some employers.

Other considerations

  • Movement to supervisor cleaning positions is possible with additional training or experience. Workers are often expected to work evenings, weekends, and holidays.

By the numbers

Quick look

8,480

employed in 2016

53.2%

employed full-time

10.7%

self employed

71.6%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
28.4%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
47.3

median age

Compared to: All Sales and Service

102,605

employed in 2016

56.4%

employed full-time

5.8%

self employed

60.1%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
39.9%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
37

median age

Where will I likely work?

45.2%

Halifax

$18,033 median annual income
15.2%

Cape Breton

$16,307 median annual income
14.6%

North Shore

$13,029 median annual income
13.8%

Annapolis Valley

$15,335 median annual income
11.3%

Southern

$10,759 median annual income

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

43.3%

Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services

23.5%

Health care and social assistance

17.8%

Accommodation and food services

2.4%

Retail trade

2.4%

Manufacturing

What is the age of Employment?

24.0%

45-54

23.0%

55-64

18.0%

35-44

14.0%

25-34

14.0%

15-24

7.0%

65+

Compared to: All Sales and Service

30.0%

15-24

17.2%

45-54

17.2%

25-34

16.1%

55-64

13.8%

35-44

Top levels of education

40.4%

High school

$16,638 median annual income
31.3%

Less than high school

$15,234 median annual income
16.3%

College Diploma

$13,614 median annual income
6.7%

Trade Certification

$18,439 median annual income
3.2%

Bachelor

$16,415 median annual income

Compared to: All Sales and Service

39.8%

High school

$15,705 median annual income
19.7%

Less than high school

$9,866 median annual income
19.5%

College Diploma

$20,644 median annual income
9.9%

Bachelor

$21,262 median annual income
8.0%

Trade Certification

$21,234 median annual income

Education & training

High School Diploma or Equivalent

High School Program

Adults without a high school diploma can contact the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) for tuition-free programming across the province. NSSAL oversees adult education programs in Nova Scotia. NSSAL partners with the Nova Scotia Community College, Adult High Schools, Université Sainte-Anne, and community-based learning organizations to deliver programs. NSSAL offers clear, accessible pathways from adult basic education to a high school credential or GED.

Institutions providing this program

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Adult High Schools

Various, NS

Community Learning Organizations

Various, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

No contacts were found under this occupation profile

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.