Majority of Tradespeople Considering Leaving Workforce Within Five Years

• Trade industry at a five-year crossroads: a new report finds the majority have considered leaving the workforce
• Over three-quarters of the UK’s trades workforce is questioning whether they can continue in the industry long term. 

Jackson Woodturners’ State of the Trades Report shows that 76% of tradespeople have considered leaving their trade within the next five 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 five 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 percentages included are the proportion of the workforce who have considered leaving their trade in the next 5 years.)

The most common reason for this is the rising costs of doing the job. More than four in ten 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 one in five (18%) point to poor mental health, suggesting that this pressure is not only physically but mentally draining too. In fact, one in nine (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.”

Improving retention rates for the trade workforce

To avoid an exodus of the UK’s trades workforce, business owners and employees can look to make changes and utilise available resources to improve working conditions. A few examples being:

1. Review pricing more often
   With costs changing rapidly, tradespeople should regularly reassess pricing, use clear quotes and consider deposits or staged payments to protect cash flow and reduce the impact of cancellations. As a minimum, consider inflation-based increases to your pricing. The Department for Business and Trade releases monthly statistics on building component costs and sites like CheckaTrade, share example benchmark costs across specific trade jobs.

2. Set firm boundaries with customers
   Clear contracts, defined scopes of work and upfront payment terms can help manage expectations, reduce disputes and limit stress caused by difficult customers. Especially if quotes change due to rising costs. Getting your contracts reviewed by a qualified solicitor will give you peace of mind and confidence when communicating costs and unplanned disruptions with customers. 

3. Protect physical health on the job
   Investing in proper equipment, lifting aids and setting realistic workloads can help prevent long-term injuries and keep tradespeople working safely for longer. Leverage apprenticeships or junior support, supervising work as they take on some of the more manual labour involved. You can find funding and support to set up apprenticeships on the Government website.   

4. Treat mental health as a business issue
   Burnout and stress affect productivity as much as physical injury. Building in rest time, sharing workloads and accessing trade-specific mental health support can make a real difference. Employers could sign up to schemes such as Spill, or individuals can reach out for support from organisations like Men’s Minds Matter and Band of Builders, for example. 

5. Plan for disruption
   Delays, cancellations and supply issues are now common. Allowing buffer time, diversifying suppliers and maintaining a financial safety net can reduce day-to-day pressure. Having a comprehensive business insurance product in place is useful to help reduce stress, knowing that you have solid coverage. 

6. Use simple tech to cut admin time
   Digital tools for invoicing, scheduling and communication can reduce unpaid admin, improve organisation and help avoid misunderstandings with customers. The survey found that tradespeople are mostly confident about using these tools more, but one in six aren’t. Training up in this area is a time investment that will pay off in the long term, with many local governments and universities hosting free digital skills sessions.

The UK State of the Trades Report findings suggest that many tradespeople are weighing up whether the demands of the job still justify the rewards. Without improvements to costs, working conditions and support, the industry risks losing experienced workers at a time when their skills are still in high demand. For further information, read the full report findings.

Source : Jackson Woodturners 

Image : MIND_AND_I / iStock / 1147804793

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