Electricians say the rising cost of materials will continue to be their biggest challenge in 2023
Posted by: electime 6th December 2022
Other key challenges include rising fuel costs (29 per cent) and customers doing their own DIY (27 per cent) - More than a quarter (26 per cent) of UK electricians think 2023 will be a better year than 2022 for their companies
- One in seven (14 per cent) electrical companies are planning to hire new staff in 2023
The rising cost of materials will continue to be the most significant challenge facing UK electricians in 2023, according to a new report assessing the confidence of the industry.
The study, conducted by ElectricalDirect, a specialist retailer of electrical products, surveyed electricians about their views on the year ahead and found that, while there is a general acceptance that the landscape is difficult, many are cautiously optimistic.
Just over a quarter (26 per cent) of UK electricians think their companies will be more successful next year than they were in 2022, and one in ten (10 per cent) believe the industry will grow stronger over the coming months.
Furthermore, more than a third (37 per cent) of electricians think they’ll be better off financially in 2023, which could explain the planned recruitment drive. Just over one in six (17 per cent) are looking to expand and hire new staff, representing a slight increase from last year (15 per cent).
However, with widespread societal issues, such as the cost of living crisis, affecting most UK households, some electricians are naturally more wary about the next 12 months.
All the respondents acknowledged that there will be challenges, and top of the list is the rising cost of materials (48 per cent). This was also the number one concern in ElectricalDirect’s report last year, but the number of concerned electricians has more than doubled (from 23 per cent), suggesting the problem is growing.
Simply getting hold of materials is also a worry (21 per cent), as is the ability to recruit people to fill job vacancies (25 per cent).
Dominick Sandford, Managing Director at ElectricalDirect, said: “It’s been a really tough couple of years, both nationally and for the electrical industry, but while many challenges remain, it’s encouraging to see that some electricians are feeling positive about the future as we approach 2023.
“However, it’s concerning that some of the most dominant issues, such as the rising cost of materials, have not been addressed in the 12 months since we last published our report, and in fact are now starting to affect more people in our industry. We hope that the situation will improve in 2023, as it’s clearly a major worry for many electricians.”
For more information about the report, including data breakdowns by age, region and trade, visit: https://www.electricaldirect.co.uk/blog/a-bright-future-2023
