New report finds 76% of UK's trades workforce have considered leaving

Over three-quarters of the UK’s trades workforce is questioning whether they can continue in the industry long term, according to Jackson Woodturners’ UK State of the Trades Report. The report shows that 76% of tradespeople have considered leaving their trade within the next 5 years, driven by a mix of financial pressure, health concerns and uncertainty around day-to-day work.

The survey of 500 UK tradespeople revealed that carpenters and joiners are the most likely to have considered leaving their trade, followed by electricians. The 5 industries most at risk of losing skilled workers are:

1. Carpenters and joiners (92%)

2. Electricians (84%)

3. Plumbers (83%)

4. Bricklayers, builders, scaffolders and roofers (81%)

5.  Building surveyors and conveyancers (80%)

The most common reason for this is the rising costs of doing the job. More than 4 in 10 tradespeople (42%) say increasing costs are making their work less viable, with higher material prices, fuel costs and overheads making it harder to plan and maintain consistent earnings. This is particularly impactful for self-employed workers who absorb these costs directly, with fewer options open to them for bulk buying or spreading the costs.

Health is another major factor shaping tradespeople’s decisions about the future. Nearly a third (31%) say poor physical health has made them think about leaving, reflecting the long-term impact of physically demanding work. Alongside this, almost 1 in 5 (18%) point to poor mental health, suggesting that this pressure is not only physically but mentally draining too. In fact, 1 in 9 (11%) stated that health issues or burnout disrupted their work last year.

The third most common reason for considering leaving the industry is poor relationships with customers, with almost a third of tradespeople (30%) saying that difficult customers are a contributing factor. 

Whilst a fifth (21%) of survey respondents admitted that they are considering leaving due to possible retirement, this still leaves over half of the workforce considering leaving for other reasons, such as those mentioned above.

Lucie Levesley, director at Jackson Woodturners said: “Whilst there seems to be plenty of work available for most tradespeople, there are a growing number of challenges that workers are facing day to day. The vast majority of tradespeople, around 90%, told us that they have experienced workflow disruptions during the past year, from the cost of living crisis to customer cancellations, unreliable contractors and poor weather.

“Many of these disruptions are outside of individual control, but there are things that can be done to reduce the risks and create a more consistent and enjoyable working environment for you and your team. The trade industry is made up of some incredibly talented and hard-working individuals who have dedicated their time to improving the homes and lives of those living in the UK. We want to see its continued growth, through improved ways of working, alongside increased Government and employer support.”