Carpentry Statistics
Carpentry remains a cornerstone of the UK construction industry, contributing significantly to both the economy and the skilled trades workforce. From its pivotal role in private housing and commercial projects to its growing emphasis on sustainability, the carpentry sector is vital for addressing the UK’s construction and renovation needs. The statistics below provide insights into the market’s economic impact, workforce demographics, gender representation, and evolving trends in both residential and commercial carpentry.
These data points showcase the carpentry trade’s dynamic nature, highlighting growth opportunities, labour shortages, and the increasing demand for skilled carpenters in a variety of sectors. As the UK construction market evolves, carpentry continues to adapt, offering both challenges and opportunities for businesses and professionals.
Economic Contribution
1) Carpentry forms an essential part of the UK’s £370 billion construction sector, which represents around 7% of the UK’s GDP
2) The market size of the Carpentry & Joinery Product Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £7.5bn in 2024.
3) There are 8,525 businesses in the Carpentry & Joinery Product Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 3.1 % between 2019 and 2024.
4) The market size of the Carpentry & Joinery Product Manufacturing in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.5 % between 2019 and 2024.
Workforce Size
5) The UK construction industry, which includes carpentry, employed approximately 2.08 million people as of Q1 2024. This marks a slight decline from previous years but shows stabilization in the workforce numbers.
6) Growth in the Carpentry Workforce: Over 300,000 carpenters and joiners were employed in the UK in 2024. Carpentry remains one of the top-demanded trades in construction.
Labour Shortages
7) The UK construction industry needs an additional 251,500 workers by 2028 to meet expected demand, equating to approximately 50,300 new workers annually.
8) There is a critical shortage of skilled tradespeople, including carpenters, partly due to an ageing workforce. Over a third of current workers are over 50, and many are nearing retirement.
9)To meet projected construction output by 2028, an additional 251,500 workers will be required, equating to about 50,300 new workers annually. Key growth areas are private housing, infrastructure, and repair/maintenance.
Growth in Demand
10) The home improvement and repair sector is projected to grow by 40% over the next decade, significantly increasing the need for skilled carpenters and other trades.
The carpentry trade contributes heavily to private housing, infrastructure projects, and maintenance, which are key areas driving recruitment needs.
11) The construction sector is forecasted to grow by 2.9% in 2025, following a slight contraction in 2024. This growth is expected to drive further opportunities for carpentry professionals as housing and green building projects increase.
Skilled Worker Demand
12) There is a persistent demand for skilled carpenters, with many regions facing shortages. This demand is driven by housing projects, renovations, and an emphasis on sustainability in building practices.
Carpenter Salary
13) Carpenters in the UK earn a salary ranging from £20,000 to £50,000 annually, depending on experience, with self-employed carpenters often earning more through bespoke projects and higher-demand contracts.
Average Earnings
14) The average salary varies quite a lot depending on which stats you look at.
£46,125 (average of 9.9k salaries – Nov 2024) – indeed
£38,836 (average of live jobs – Nov 2024) – Reed
£36,081 UK Average – Glass door
So if you take an average of the averages you get: £40,500 appox.
Regional Salary Difference
15) Carpenters in London earn an average of £4,000–£8,000 more annually compared to those in Northern England, highlighting regional disparities.
Carpentry and Joinery Firms
16) The UK has approximately 7,400 firms specializing in carpentry and joinery manufacturing, employing about 56,000 people. Additionally, there are nearly 30,000 joinery installation businesses, covering areas like kitchens, staircases, and window fitting.
Self-Employment
17) Around 60% of carpenters and joiners in the UK are self-employed, with many operating in London as independent contractors. This independence is supported by the strong market for bespoke and small-scale projects.
Women in Carpentry
18) Women in carpentry and the broader construction industry in the UK remain significantly underrepresented but are making strides. Women constitute 4% of the UK construction workforce and currently account for just over 1% of carpenters in the UK, which highlights the male dominance in the trade. However, initiatives like the Women’s Trade Network aim to encourage more women to enter construction trades by offering mentorship, training, and employment opportunities.
19) Encouragingly, 12% of new apprentices in the construction sector were female in 2020/21, showing progress toward greater gender inclusion and increasing the visibility of successful women in the trades.
The number of homeowners searching for female tradespeople has increased significantly over the past few years.
20) Many related Google search queries have seen dramatic increases in volume. For example; ‘lady plumber near me’ (+450%), ‘lady painter and decorator near me’ (+125%) and ‘female carpenter near me’ (+100%) have all seen triple digit year on year percentage growth in the number of homeowners searching for them.
21) 11% of female homeowners would prefer to hire a tradeswoman
To expand on this statistic, amongst open comments in a survey of homeowners, there is a slight bias among females that suggests they’d feel more comfortable hiring a female tradesperson. Comments from a survey of homeowners, such as ‘I’d feel more comfortable hiring a woman’ and ‘I’d feel safer hiring a female tradesperson’, highlight this sentiment.
Economic Impact
23) The woodworking sector alone generates an annual turnover of approximately £4 billion, playing a crucial role in both new construction and renovation projects across the UK.
High Demand in London
24) London has the highest concentration of carpenters and joiners in the UK due to the high demand in both residential and commercial projects. This reflects the city’s ongoing construction activities and renovations.
Wood Flooring Industry
The wood flooring industry in the UK and globally is showing steady growth, driven by increasing residential and commercial demand. Here are some key insights:
Flooring Market Size and Growth:
25) The UK wood and laminate flooring market generated £2.2 billion in revenue in 2023 and is projected to grow to £2.75 billion by 2030, with a (CAGR) of 3.3%.
Globally, wood flooring is segmented into solid wood and engineered wood, with engineered wood being particularly popular due to its durability and versatility.
Residential vs. Commercial Demand:
26) The residential sector dominates the wood flooring market, accounting for 73.1% of revenue in 2023, and is expected to remain the fastest-growing segment.
Commercial spaces, including offices and retail stores, also contribute significantly, particularly with demand for durable and aesthetically appealing flooring solutions.
Carpentry and Residential Projects
27) Fitted Wardrobes Market: Approximately 20% of UK homeowners have invested in custom fitted wardrobes in the £400 million annually.
28) Wood floor installations: have increased by 15% over the last decade, with oak and engineered wood leading the market.
29) Bay Window Seats: Carpentry for bay window seats with storage is increasingly popular in urban areas, especially in London.
Bay window seats London
Training and Education
30) To address the growing skills gap, 1.3 million skilled workers and 350,000 apprentices need to be trained across trades, including carpentry, over the next ten years
Apprenticeship Growth
31) In 2023, more than 7,000 carpentry and joinery apprenticeships were started in the UK, marking a 12% increase since 2021.
Enrollment in Short Courses
32) Around 25,000 students annually enroll in carpentry-related short courses across the UK, indicating continued interest and investment in skills development.
Graduates Entering the Workforce
33) In 2022, approximately 20,000 carpentry and joinery students from trade schools entered the workforce, helping to fill the growing demand for skilled labor.
Commercial Carpentry
Office and Retail Fit-Outs
34) Commercial carpentry projects account for 35% of the industry, with London leading demand for office and retail fit-outs.
Sustainability Practices
35) More than 50% of commercial carpentry projects now include sustainability criteria, reflecting a trend towards eco-conscious construction.
sources:
1-4 (IBIS), 5 & 6, 13(Statista), 7-9, 12, 30, 33 (CITB), 10 & 11 (PwC), 15 (ONS), 16 (House of Commons Library) 17 (Career Smart), 18 & 19 (Construction Job Board), 20 (Google Ads), 21 (My Local Toolbox), 22, 24 (Career Smart), 23, 28 (BWF), 25 & 26 (Grand View Research), 27 (Houzz Survey), 31 & 32 (gov.uk), 34 (Construction Industry Insights), 35 (Sustainable Construction Report)
