The systemic underpayment of janitors is often attributed to a combination of economic, social, and structural factors. Primarily, janitorial work is classified as "unskilled labor," a term that suggests anyone can do the job without formal education, which historically depresses wages regardless of the physical toll or essential nature of the work. Furthermore, the rise of "outsourcing" and third-party facility management companies has created a "race to the bottom" where contractors compete for the lowest bid to win building maintenance contracts, often by cutting labor costs. Socially, janitorial work is frequently "invisible labor," performed after hours or in the background, which leads to a lack of public advocacy and lower bargaining power for workers. This is exacerbated by the fact that the workforce often includes vulnerable populations, such as immigrants or those with limited alternative employment options, who may be less likely to unionize or demand higher pay. Despite being "essential workers" who maintain public health and safety—especially evident during global health crises—the economic structures of commercial real estate and the devaluing of manual labor continue to keep janitorial salaries near the minimum wage in many developed nations.