Abstract
This study uses a mixed-methods approach to examine trends in the number and characteristics of domestic workers and their employers in New Jersey. The study focuses specifically on nannies and home-based childcare providers, housekeepers, and caregivers for the elderly and individuals with disabilities. An analysis of labor force survey data is used to provide a comprehensive account of domestic worker employment and earnings in New Jersey and how the state compares with the national average. The study also uses qualitative evidence to examine the potential for worker-centered digital platforms to support, rather than marginalize, domestic workers. Finally, a regression analysis using survey data of household employers in New Jersey was conducted to examine the demand for domestic workers and the extent to which household employers are aware of labor laws governing their domestic workers. New Jersey constitutes an interesting case not only because it has one of the largest immigrant populations in the United States, but also because it has typically taken a lead in implementing progressive labor market legislation. In fact, New Jersey is often considered the “incubator state” for progressive policies that can then be scaled up. The objective of this research is to better understand how states like New Jersey can support digital-platform work in a way that advances worker-centered interests rather than contributing to further marginalization and exploitation of workers.