Rising cost of materials will be the biggest challenge in 2022, say UK electricians

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  Posted by: electime      4th January 2022

  • Other key challenges include getting hold of materials and struggling to recruit staff
  • A fifth (20 per cent) of UK electricians think 2022 will be a better year than 2021 for their companies
  • Almost one in five (19 per cent) electrical companies are looking to hire new staff in 2022

The rising cost of materials will be the most significant challenge facing UK electricians in 2022, according to a new report assessing the confidence of the industry.

The study, conducted by ElectricalDirect, specialist retailer of electrical products, surveyed electricians about their views on the year ahead and found that, while some are quietly optimistic, they are well aware of the upcoming difficulties.

Overall, a fifth (20 per cent) of UK electricians think 2022 will be a better year for their companies than 2021, and one in seven (14 per cent) believe the industry will grow stronger over the coming months.

In fact, almost one in five (19 per cent) electrical workers believe their company will have fully recovered from the pandemic by this time next year, and the same number (19 per cent) are looking to expand and hire new staff.

Furthermore, more than one in six (18 per cent) electricians think they’ll be in a stronger financial position in 2022, with more work (18 per cent) and better job security (21 per cent).

However, some electricians are naturally more cautious about the next 12 months. Almost a quarter (22 per cent) think their company will find business tough in 2022 and one in seven (14 per cent) think the industry will struggle.

All the respondents acknowledged that there will inevitably be challenges, and the rising cost of materials is the number one concern (23 per cent). Simply getting hold of materials is also a worry (22 per cent), as is the ability to recruit people to fill job vacancies (22 per cent).

 

 

Interestingly, the main challenges vary slightly by generation. Recruitment (24 per cent) is the biggest cause of apprehension amongst millennials (25-34s), while for 35–44-year-olds, the rising cost of materials (22 per cent) tops the list. For 45-54s, getting hold of tools and equipment (24 per cent) is the major stressor.

Dominick Sandford, Managing Director at ElectricalDirect, said: “It’s been an incredibly difficult couple of years for both the country and the electrical industry, and while there is still a long way to go before a full recovery can be expected, it’s encouraging to see that some electricians are feeling positive as we approach 2022.

“However, it’s clear that for many, the next 12 months will involve challenges of all shapes and sizes, and we hope that electricians are able to ride out the storm until the landscape finally stabilises.”

For more information about the report, including data breakdowns by age, gender and region, visit: https://www.electricaldirect.co.uk/blog/a-bright-future