Were plumbers the most in-demand trade in 2020?

In collaboration with Rated People, Vanarama has carried out a survey of 1,000 Brits to find out which tradespeople were most in demand in 2020. Who were the busiest, why were they needed, and did lockdown affected consumer attitudes?

According to Rated People CEO, Adrienne Minster: “Thousands of people have turned to professional tradespeople… to help them turn their visions into reality. At Rated People, we’ve seen a natural increase of 7% more jobs being posted for tradespeople.”

Who needed to call a tradesperson during 2020?
64% of respondents needed help from a tradesperson during 2020, with 52% saying that more time around the house during lockdown had made them more aware of issues that needed fixing. This demand led to some noticeable wait times, with 29% claiming that they’d had to hold on for longer than usual to book in a tradesperson’s time.

The most in-demand tradespeople in 2020

The survey findings show that plumbers and electricians were most in-demand, most likely due to them being used much more than usual with people working from home during the lockdown. These results lined up with Rated People’s experience: “Overall, we’ve seen most demand for plumbers. We put that down to them being available for home emergencies and necessary fixes that won’t wait.”

How much did Brits spend on tradespeople during 2020?

Most people spent £100 or less, showing that it’s odd jobs and quick fixes that have been keeping tradespeople busy.

Are consumers happy to have tradespeople in their homes during lockdown?
68% of respondents said that they were comfortable with tradespeople in their home during lockdown. While the majority are comfortable having people in to do work, 20% are still uneasy with letting a tradesperson use their toilet.

You can read the full findings here