After eight years as a home organizer, An Xiaojiao finally feels her profession is receiving the recognition it deserves.
A graduate of the inaugural Shanghai house stewards program, An took first place in home storage and organization at the 2026 Shanghai women's domestic service vocational skills competition this year. Her salary has risen 10 percent since completing the program.
"Before, I only addressed surface-level behavioral problems with elderly clients. Now I dig into the psychological needs behind those behaviors and match them with targeted professional skills," says An, who works at a local community service development center.
When organizing a home, she no longer simply arranges items but guides clients through decluttering and builds a storage system around their daily habits. "Clients witness how a cluttered home transforms into sustainable order, and they can directly perceive the value of professional service."
The second term of the program launched at the Zhongyuan campus of Shanghai Open University on Aug 8, when over 50 selected workers began a five-month systematic curriculum.
Guided by the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce and led by the university, the initiative aims to elevate Shanghai's domestic service industry to a high-quality level.
