Is the labor shortage driving up the cost of janitorial services?

However, many businesses have struggled to retain in-house cleaning services, especially janitorial employees. This has raised the cost of janitorial services across the board, including commercial janitorial rates. If you’re debating between hiring commercial cleaning services or continuing to train in-house employees, you should know a few things.

Why Are Commercial Janitorial Rates Increasing?

Navigating the Pandemic

The pandemic changed how industries sanitize their workspace. With an increased risk of contracting the virus, standard cleaning practices were restructured to ensure businesses followed CDC guidelines.These stricter guidelines for sanitizing, disinfecting, and general cleaning helped lead to safer work conditions, but it also created a need for more diligent sanitation workers, and in greater numbers.

Although the world has recovered significantly, the effects of the pandemic have not entirely dissipated. Many industries have continued implementing thorough cleaning regimens, which are much more detailed than before the pandemic. The need for more janitorial employees doing additional work has naturally raised the cost, and the same applies to commercial janitorial rates.

A Major Labor Shortage

On top of the virus itself, there was also a significant labor shortage. For numerous reasons, countless industries have faced labor shortages over the past few years. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment rates reached a record-breaking high of 14.7% back in 2020. While this number has been reduced and stabilized, the economic effects are still felt today.

Other janitorial employees left of their own accord. Many Americans adapted to working from home, allowing them a better work-life balance and did not want to give that up. Others sought higher salaries as prices continued to skyrocket, leading to more competitive pay and higher business costs. Employee turnover reached unprecedented highs that many industries are still experiencing. Pair that with the already high turnover rates of janitorial roles, and it was only a matter of time before commercial janitorial rates increased.

Rising Prices

Commercial janitorial rates aren’t the only thing going up, as prices around the U.S. have generally increased. The average inflation rate soared up to 7% in 2021. This is opposed to just 1.4% the prior year. And while it has been steadily decreasing, it still sits above 6%. Overall, prices increased 13.8% from January 2021 to October 2022, raising the cost of everything from a gallon of milk to a gallon of gas.

These economic price hikes have forced many industries to increase their prices, and commercial janitorial rates reflect that increase, but only slightly. Even so, paying for these commercial cleaning services can actually save companies money in the long run.

Companies across America have struggled to retain janitorial workers, but that doesn’t mean working in a clean environment is impossible. If you want a spotless facility without the hassle, consider learning more about Carlson Building Maintenance’s janitorial services.

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Tips for Reducing Internal Cleaning Costs

Even if commercial janitorial rates are only increasing marginally, attempting to reduce your own internal cleaning costs might seem more appealing. Here are a few things you can try:

Use multi-purpose cleaning products: Rather than purchasing separate cleaning products for every surface and appliance, consider investing in multi-purpose cleaning supplies to use on practically any surface.
Buy in bulk: Instead of buying what your facility needs for the month, try purchasing excess cleaning products in bulk. This reduces overall supplies costs and limits how often you need to restock.
Upgrade cleaning equipment: Invest in higher quality cleaning equipment that lasts longer than cheap alternatives and is more efficient. Better equipment also reduces the time it takes workers to accomplish tasks. And if you’re willing to purchase robotic cleaning equipment like floor scrubbers, you can also save on wage costs.
Enforce the best training techniques: Your cleaning products and equipment are only as good as your janitorial staff. It’s essential to teach them the best cleaning practices so your facility is thoroughly cleaned and done so efficiently.

How Commercial Janitorial Rates Are More Cost Effective Than In-House Cleaning

There’s nothing wrong with cutting down on internal cleaning costs. However, even with rising commercial janitorial rates, their services still tend to be more cost effective for companies than dealing with the struggles of internal hiring.

Here are some reasons why commercial janitorial rates pay for themselves:

Readily available: The interviewing and hiring stages for new employees take time. And with high janitorial turnover rates, there’s no telling how long an employee might stay with the team, costing you valuable time and money. Commercial cleaning services are always readily available, and with flexible schedules, you can choose a time that works best for you.
Quality service: You get what you pay for when you hire commercial janitorial services. Using the best equipment and cleaning practices, they ensure that facilities are spotless from top to bottom. Because commercial janitorial services are the best of the best, you won’t have to spend time training like you might with staffed employees.
No staffing wages: Hiring a recurring commercial cleaning service might not be free, but doing so saves the additional cost of paying an hourly employee. When you crunch the numbers, converting to a cleaning service is likely well below the cost of paying out employee wages.

Think Commercial Building Cleaning Services Are Right For You? Consider Carlson Building Maintenance

Suppose you’re tired of dealing with the constant hassles of interviewing, hiring, and training potential employees, only to repeat the process because of high turnover rates. In that case, you might consider contacting a commercial cleaning service.

Luckily, Carlson Building Maintenance is here to help.

Carlson Building Maintenance has provided cleaning and floor maintenance for retail and educational facilities for over 60 years. We have the know-how to price commercial cleaning jobs fairly while also delivering top-quality results. With a 98% customer retention rate, we also invite you to experience the Carlson Way.