21st century skills

[B]utlering has become one of the fastest-growing occupations in the United States after more than a half-century of decline, driven by the greatest surge in American wealth in nearly a century. Over the past 10 years, the number of multimillionaire households has more than doubled. As of 2004, there were more than 1.4 million U.S. households worth at least $5 million and more than 530,000 worth more than $10 million, according to the Federal Reserve.

On the third floor of the Starkey Mansion, placement workers frantically answer phones from rich homeowners looking for help. A large white board lists more than a dozen job offers. "We have too much demand and not enough qualified graduates," says Mary Starkey, Starkey's charismatic founder, whose business card reads "The First Lady of Service." Starkey received about 300 applications for its 50 slots this year, up from barely filling the slots five years ago.

Other butler-placement agencies are also swamped. EstateJobs.com, a placement service for household staff, had more than 100 job listings on its site just months after it launched in 2005. One ad read: This New York City family needs someone extremely organized. They summer in the Hamptons and need someone to assist in running and staffing their new summer home.... They also need someone techie-Mac and BlackBerry savvy to set up systems in the new beach house and facilitate entertaining, travel arrangements and coordinate with all appropriate vendors. Other duties involve shopping for presents.

source:
The Butler Boom
Wealthy Explosion Sparks Labor Shortage; Starting Pay $70,000
WSJ June 1, 2007, p. W1