Plumbers and heating engineers are expected to be the most in demand trade in 2023, new data conducted in March 2023 by Eureka! Research suggests.

The market research company, who specialise in trade and construction data, surveyed 970 homeowners and found that 46% are planning work needing a plumber or heating engineer this year, followed by 30% needing painters and decorators and 27% for electricians.

The demand for plumbing and heating engineers is likely to cover routine maintenance and repairs, as well as larger improvement projects, like bathrooms.

The survey also found that around eight in 10 higher earners intend to bring in a professional trade into their home at some point during this year, suggesting a strong year ahead for tradespeople positioned at the higher end of the market.

However, around one half of the poorest households in the UK have no intention of using a trade this year. This is likely due to the continuing cost of living crisis, which has led to more households turning to DIY to complete home repairs and improvements.

Dave Ruston, director at Eureka! Research, says: “The general economic forecasts all seem to indicate that a challenging year still awaits, which will inevitably dampen demand for bigger ticket items such as bathrooms and kitchens.”

Unsurprisingly, the proportion of homeowners expecting to use the services of a tradespeople is higher (71%) compared to those who are in the private and social rented sectors (53%).

Here's what the survey found out:
Heating & Plumbing Engineers – 46%
Painter & Decorators – 30%
Electricians – 27%
Handyman – 19%
General Builder – 19%
Window/Door Installer – 19%
Landscapers – 17%
Carpenter/Joiner – 16%
Roofer – 16%
Plasterer – 14%
Kitchen Fitter – 14%

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