The $6 Trillion Oversight: How One Mom Turned Invisible Labor into a Lucrative Business

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(SeaPRwire) –

Markets often ignore the value of work done behind closed doors. Women handle 71% of household mental tasks, according to a 2024 study from the University of Bath and Melbourne. This invisible labor is worth trillions annually, yet it remains unpaid. Dual-income families face time scarcity, with mothers cutting hours or leaving jobs due to this burden. KPMG research confirms higher exit rates for mothers of young children. Oxfam estimates global unpaid care work at $10.8 trillion, with the US alone at $6 trillion—about a fifth of GDP. It’s a silent drag on economic potential. Kelly Hubbell experienced this firsthand. While working in tech sales and raising two children, she tallied 23 hours weekly of household work. Most was mental planning, not chores. The overwhelm drove her to hire a house manager, which transformed her ability to be present at home and work.

Hubbell founded Sage Haus in 2023 during her third maternity leave. The service helps parents hire house managers who take ownership of logistics like scheduling and errands. Unlike babysitters, they proactively manage household systems. Families pay $25 to $45 per hour for 15-20 hours weekly, totaling $20,000 to $47,000 annually. Full-time managers earn $50,000 to $120,000, above the Indeed average of $23 per hour. Sage Haus charges a flat placement fee. The company now has 60 employees and serves 100 families monthly in the US and Canada. It offers a $99 certification course for house managers, teaching anticipation and discretion. Hubbell quit her job to run it full-time, viewing the role as a career path with high executive functioning demands.

Sage Haus monetizes what was once free, targeting dual-income families who can afford to outsource the mental load. This could reduce career sacrifices for women, potentially narrowing the gender gap in workforce participation. The service professionalizes house management, creating jobs and validating care work economically. As more women enter the workforce, demand for such solutions may grow, shifting the industry landscape. However, it remains a luxury for high earners. The market underinvests in these solutions, so companies should subsidize household support as a benefit to retain talent. Otherwise, human potential will continue to be unlocked inefficiently.