New research has found that plumbers are the most searched-for trade online, accounting for 23% of all searches for tradespeople in the UK.
The study by IronmongeryDirect found that Brits search for local tradespeople on Google over 700,000 times a month, and plumbers are the most sought-after. Every month, people conduct more than 162,000 searches for plumbers, representing 23% of all online trade enquiries. In fact, in 82 of the UK’s 100 largest towns and cities, plumbers are the most coveted tradespeople.
While plumbers top the list at 23% of searches, electricians came second (15%) followed by landscapers (13%), roofers (10%), plasterers (9%), carpenters (9%) and builders (8%).
The people of Bath are most likely to seek the services of a tradesperson, with 103 monthly Google searches per 1000 residents – the highest rate in the UK. The Somerset city is followed by Preston (102) and Bedford (88). However, this varies by trade, with Exeter being the most lucrative city for many workers.
| Trade | Most sought after city | Average monthly searches |
| Joiner | Southampton | 4,813 |
| Plumber | Blackpool | 4,158 |
| Plasterer | Bath | 3,525 |
| Electrician | Worcester | 2,088 |
| Roofer | Preston | 1,810 |
| Builder | Exeter | 1,702 |
| Landscaper | Exeter | 930 |
| Carpenter | Bedford | 866 |
| Bricklayer | Colchester | 354 |
| Scaffolder | Exeter | 253 |
| Painter | Exeter | 183 |
| Building Surveyor | Cambridge | 173 |
Dominick Sandford, MD at IronmongeryDirect, says: “Tradespeople are incredibly valued members of communities all over the UK, but it’s interesting to see exactly where their skills are most sought-after at the moment.
“For people looking to enter a trade or set up their own business, data like this could be really useful when choosing a location to establish yourself, as it’s a helpful indicator of potential demand for your services.”
To see the top five locations where each trade is most in-demand, visit:https://www.ironmongerydirect.co.uk/blog/the-uk-cities-where-each-trade-is-most-in-demand
