England’s plumbing workforce is on course to shrink by 30% by 2039, according to a new report issued by JTL. According to the report the workforce has already fallen by 16%, from 163,500 to 137,800 since 2018.

The latest available full year data shows that 2,150 people started a plumbing apprenticeship in England, when Skills England’s own growth modelling implies over 8,500 new entrants a year are needed to meet workforce growth and replacement demands. Apprentices already make up just 5.2% of the plumbing workforce today, less than half the 14.2% share seen in electrical, leaving too few people in training to replace the tradespeople retiring from the sector in the years ahead.

In response to the report’s finding, JTL is calling for the government to take urgent action to boost the uptake of plumbing apprentices. Their asks include: 

·      Raise the SME apprenticeship hiring incentive from £2,000 to £3,000 for under-25s, with a further £3,000 for priority construction standards.

·      Designate plumbing a priority occupation in national workforce planning, with funding tied to projected shortfalls.

·      Remove the delay to the new Level 2 and Level 3 plumbing standards and bring them forward without further hold-ups.

The training provider argues that apprenticeships remain the industry’s gold-standard route into the trade, giving plumbers the breadth of on-the-job experience that classroom-only courses cannot replicate. Yet the number of people completing a plumbing apprenticeship is now around half what it was a decade ago, and completion rates have stalled at approximately 45%.

The findings draw on new workforce modelling built with data and insight from the Office for National Statistics, the Department for Education, the Joint Industry Board for Plumbing and Mechanical Engineering Services, the Building Engineering Services Association and industry partners including CIPHE, APHC, MCS, HPA, IOR and SNIPEF.

Chris Claydon, CEO of JTL, comments: “This country cannot build the homes, energy infrastructure and communities it needs without enough skilled plumbers and heating engineers to do the work. The pipeline into this trade is far too narrow, and every year we delay fixing it, the shortfall grows harder to reverse. Government, employers and training providers all have a part to play, starting with clear standards, proper incentives and a genuine commitment to apprenticeships as the route into this profession.”

Sarah Fry, CEO at APHC, adds: “The findings of this report reinforce what APHC members are telling us every day. Demand for skilled plumbing and heating professionals continues to grow, yet many small businesses face increasing barriers to recruiting and developing the next generation. Practical support, simpler training pathways and targeted investment are needed to help SMEs continue developing the skilled workforce on which the country’s housing, infrastructure and net zero ambitions depend.”

For further information, visit: https://jtltraining.com/