UK Tradespeople are Feeling the Pinch in 2023
In the past 12 months, the average earnings for tradespeople took a belly‑aching dive – down from £82,821 in 2022 to £68,474 in 2023. That’s a 17 % drop, which translates to more than a £1,000 loss each month.
Why the drop? Supply chain hiccups and sky‑high materials
From rising building costs to delayed deliveries, every contractor’s wallet has been feeling the squeeze. Turnover doesn’t equal profit, so the headline number only tells part of the story.
Top earners… and why they’re still on top
- Builders – £114,353 average turnover
- Dryliners – £105,832 (up 12 % from last year)
- Groundworkers – £105,434
- Glaziers – £99,766
- Flooring contractors – £92,386
Even with a dip in earnings, builders still dominate the list – maybe because nothing beats the thrill of literally building things from scratch.
Top towns for tradespeople (by turnover)
- Grays, Essex – £115,445
- Fareham, Hampshire – £113,846
- St Albans, Hertfordshire – £112,631
- Oxford – £109,681
- Romford – £105,868
- Dagenham – £105,862
- London – £101,532
- Harrow – £101,532
- Luton – £101,331
- Dartford – £100,602
Where pain is most acute
Worcester, St Helens and Eastbourne are the places where the pain is most visceral, with many tradespeople reporting steep earnings declines.
What the industry leaders are saying
B. Montoya, UK COO at Simply Business, reminds us that “small business owners are the backbone of the UK economy”. They’re shoulder‑deep in challenges but still essential to local communities.
She urges consumers to keep the local tradespeople in mind when they need work – after all, an economy cannot thrive without a steady stream of skilled labour.
