By Annie Gowen
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, June 14, 2009
In recent months, a fundamental shift has occurred in the nanny market in Washington, D.C. After years of intense competition for top nanny talent, agencies are now seeing a deluge of available nannies as parents who have lost jobs or downsized turn to cheaper child-care options, including staying at home.
Parents who once had to act quickly to secure a good nanny now have more choices. Lesley Kalan, a consultant from Alexandria, says that after the birth of her child, she feels like she’s now “in the driver’s seat” when it comes to hiring a nanny. Lorna Spencer, co-owner of A Choice Nanny in Columbia, reports that her business is down 50% and the number of out-of-work nannies has doubled in the past year.
Even in good times, nannies have relatively low job security and earn wages that are below average for professional childcare workers. A nanny in the Washington area typically earns about $16 an hour, according to the International Nanny Association. The number of unemployed nannies has risen in recent years, with about 13% of nannies across the country unemployed in 2008, up from 8% in 2006.
Liz Caceres, a former nanny from Rockville, lost her job earlier this year after her employer was laid off. After a month of searching, she eventually found new work through babysitting connections. In the past, nannies had the luxury of choosing between multiple offers with generous benefits, but now, some families are offering salaries below average and asking for additional responsibilities, such as house cleaning.
Some parents are also attempting to reduce costs by deducting “rent” from live-in nannies’ salaries, which was unheard of before the economic downturn. Ali Burket, a government affairs specialist in Alexandria, said that when she hired her nanny a year ago, the market was much more competitive, with nannies setting the terms. Now, she’s seen families offering drastically lower wages for more duties.
Jaclyn Gobuluk, owner of Metropolitan Nannies in Herndon, has noticed that some parents are now specifically requesting college-educated, American nannies, even if those candidates have less experience than immigrant nannies. Some parents have also become more particular about the physical appearance of their nannies, even making unreasonable requests such as insisting on a nanny with blonde hair.
Nannies like Karen Taylor, a Fairfax County resident with over 20 years of experience, have struggled to find work after losing their jobs due to family downsizing. Despite her qualifications and higher-than-average pay, she has been unemployed for months.
For parents like Lesley Kalan, the new abundance of nanny candidates means she has the luxury of choosing someone who meets her growing list of requirements, including being bilingual and able to drive. “My list of demands is getting a little longer now,” Kalan says.