The road to precarious work: Studying paid domestic cleaning workers' career trajectories

Guided by vulnerability and precarity frameworks, we investigated the career trajectories of paid domestic cleaning (PDC) workers in Switzerland with two specific aims: (a) investigate the accumulation of vulnerabilities through former educational, life, and work experiences and (b) explore the career decisions and volitional constraints that have led to PDC. Using reflexive thematic analysis, four main vulnerabilities were identified: restricted possibilities to obtain education (e.g., unequal access, difficulties during educational years), marginalization experiences (e.g., gender inequalities, racism), exposure to precarity-prone contexts and life events (e.g., insecure country, divorce), and precarious work periods and career disruptions (e.g., short-term contracts, job loss). Decisional strategies leading to PDC stemmed from (a) prioritizing survival needs with PDC as easy and quick access to income, (b) weighing available options and choosing the more attractive possibility, and (c) postponing career aspirations, considering PDC a bridge to better career prospects. For each strategy, an illustrative case was provided. This study's contribution stems from the description of person-related and context-related challenges for the career development of workers facing important structural barriers in their careers. In short, our study may change societal views on how workers become involved with precarious work. Practical implications are proposed at the policy and occupational levels, such as more accessible state support, stronger labor regulations, and monitoring. Concerning career counseling, recommendations consist of improving inclusivity, advocacy, and collective and social justice-oriented initiatives, such as interdisciplinary collaborations, developing critical consciousness, and mutual support among counselees. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).