As a trusted supplier to thousands of UK joiners, builders, and carpenters, we at Jackson Woodturners work closely with tradespeople every day, hearing first-hand the positives and pressures of life on site. From healthy customer demand to skill shortages among the workforce, these conversations inspired us to take a deeper look at the current trade landscape.
We commissioned our State of the Trades survey, gathering insights from 500 tradespeople across the UK. The findings reveal a mixed outlook for the year ahead: one defined by rising costs, customer pressure, and mental health concerns; and underpinned by strong demand and resilience in the sector.
The biggest challenges of the past year
A huge 90% of tradespeople say they have faced work disruptions this year, with external factors continuing to shape the industry.
Top five causes of disruption:
- Rising material costs: disrupted 43% of tradespeople
- Customer cancellations: disrupted 33% of tradespeople
- Late or withheld payments: disrupted 20% of tradespeople
- Import and supply delays: disrupted 18% of tradespeople
- Poor weather: disrupted 18% of tradespeople
These findings show how vulnerable project schedules can be. For small businesses and independent tradespeople, even one cancellation or delay can have a big knock-on effect. When combined with late payments or supply issues, it can become a tough environment to operate in.
Customer pressure to reduce quotes
Even with costs climbing, tradespeople are facing pressure from clients and customers to reduce their prices. 85% of survey respondents said they have been asked by customers to lower quotes in 2025 and 1 in 7 (14%) say this happens to them “frequently”.
The most affected trades include:
- Carpenters and joiners (93%)
- Building surveyors and contractors (91%)
- Electricians (87%)
At the same time, the “cash-for-discount” culture remains widespread. The majority (87%) say customers have asked to pay cash in exchange for a lower rate and almost half (41%) say this happens “often”.
Whilst cash payment may reduce bank charges and card machine fees, playing cash shouldn’t hugely rescue customer bills. Tradespeople will need to declare cash revenue in the same way it does digital payments.
Widespread mental health burden
The survey has highlighted widespread stress, burnout, and anxiety across trade professionals, with many working under this strain. Previous studies and sources have shown that there is an issue within the construction and trade industries and this new data reflects these findings also.
Key findings:
When asked about their self-reported mental health over the past year, with tradespeople admitted to experiencing the below.
- Stress: 90% have experienced it this year; 36% weekly
- Burnout: 82% have experienced it; 24% weekly
- Anxiety: 88% have experienced it this year; 25% weekly
- Symptoms of depression: 67% have experienced it this year; 16% weekly
- Loneliness: 72% have experienced it this year; 20% weekly
These figures show that while the industry’s resilience is clear, the mental health toll is significant. From long hours and uncertain workloads to financial stress, tradespeople face pressures that extend well beyond the job site. Greater awareness and access to support networks will be key to improving wellbeing and retention.
Dr Luke Sullivan, Clinical Psychologist and Founder at Men’s Minds Matter has shared guidance on how all tradespeople can look after their mental health during the festive season:
- Learn to spot early warning signals -
Take the time to know yourself and notice any physical and emotional cues that might be a result of stress. Irritability, tension, fatigue, difficulty switching off are all common indicators to act and make changes. They’re your body telling you something is off, not signs of weakness. - Assess your load, not your limits -
Stress often reflects excessive demands, not a lack of resilience. Examine what's on your plate both personally and professionally and adjust the weight before questioning your capacity or capabilities. It’s a good idea to review your new year plans now too, so you’re not struggling into the new year. - Redistribute, don’t internalise -
You don’t have to carry everything alone. Delegate, share, or ask for help in finding another way. Whether that’s at work, at home, or with friends. Even small redistributions of responsibility or calling in additional resource can release a lot of pressure. - Protect your boundaries -
Protect your personal time, family time, and rest. Boundaries are essential — they’re not selfish, they’re protective. Make space for the things that replenish you and treat that time as non-negotiable. Deciding what you are willing to give creates boundaries and helps you recognise when you have crossed them. - Talk before you tip -
You don’t have to wait until things fall apart to speak up. Talk early and openly about how you’re feeling. Sharing takes the weight off and gives others the chance to step in before the load becomes too heavy. If you’re not sure where to start, visit www.mensmindsmatter.org for self-help resources, guides, and training opportunities. You may also find support through organisations like Band of Builders.
Confidence check: how trades feel going into 2026
Despite the challenges from 2025, many tradespeople are cautiously optimistic heading into 2026. The below table shows confidence rates across a range of issues and challenges facing the industry, with the majority leaving towards a positive 2026.
| Issue or challenge | Confident | Not Confident |
|---|---|---|
| Personal health (mental & physical) | 62% | 12% |
| Availability of work | 60% | 19% |
| Business finances | 53% | 14% |
| Access to skilled labour | 47% | 14% |
| Import & supply delays | 46% | 18% |
| Cost of living | 42% | 27% |
| Rising material costs | 40% | 28% |
Most tradespeople are confident about work availability and health, but uncertainty around the cost of living continues to balance this optimism. The result is a positive but cautious outlook, one that reflects the industry’s resilience but also its ongoing exposure to economic pressures.
How much will tradespeople charge in 2026?
81% of tradespeople say they plan to increase their rates next year, while only 2% expect to lower them, suggesting a shift towards fairer, more sustainable pricing which reflects growing demand for highly skilled professionals.
The average increase is predicted to be an estimated 9.5%, with almost a third (32%) planning rises of 11%+. While nearly one in ten (9%) anticipate 20%+ increases.
| Trade specialism | Expected price increase (2026) |
|---|---|
| Carpenters and joiners | 10.8% |
| Caretakers, maintenance professionals and handypeople | 10.8% |
| Electricians | 10.1% |
| Building surveyors and contractor | 9.4% |
| Painters, decorators, plasterers and tilers | 9.1% |
Could the industry face a worsening skills shortage?
When asked, more than three-quarters (76%) of tradespeople say they’ve thought about leaving their trade within the next five years.
5 top reasons for this include:
- Rising costs associated with the job, 42%
- Poor physical health, 31%
- Difficult customers, 30%
- Poor mental health, 18%
- Lack of work availability, 18%
Though these figures only relate to those who have “thought about” or “considered” leaving, this trend raises concerns about the existing skills and workforce shortage. Retaining experienced tradespeople and encouraging new entrants will require industry-wide efforts in the coming years.
Strong demand shows industry resilience
There is a clear demand for skilled tradespeople, with bookings already filling up for 2026. At the time of writing in November 2025, 85% of tradespeople were already fully booked for the rest of the year.
Those planning new year renovations would be wise to book any tradespeople in as soon as possible as,
- 35% are booked up until March 2026
- 18% are booked up until April 2026
This strong pipeline reflects continued trust in UK trades and Brits continued investment in their homes and gardens. It demonstrates the enduring value of craftsmanship, skill, and reliability in times where consumer finances are stretched.
Working together in the year ahead…
At Jackson Woodturners, we’re proud to work alongside and support tradespeople across the UK, from carpenters and joiners to builders and decorators. We see the realities of the job every day, recognising the skill, resilience, and commitment that keep the country’s home improvement projects running.
Explore our wide range of stair parts online or visit our showroom in Sheffield to take an in person look at our range and speak to our helpful customer support team.
