New research has revealed that 28% of London tradespeople are set to work on Christmas Day.
A quarter of London tradespeople including carpenters and electricians will be working Christmas Day, while over a third are taking less time off over the festive period than previous years due to the rising cost of living.
A survey of 500 UK tradespeople conducted by IronmongeryDirect asked workers about their festive plans amid the financial squeeze and 35% said they were taking less time off this Christmas than in previous years.
Dominick Sandford, managing director at IronmongeryDirect, said: “It’s been an incredibly tough couple of years for tradespeople, and the cost of living crisis is yet another challenge facing the industry and its workforce.
“Sadly then, it’s perhaps unsurprising that so many feel unable to take much time off this Christmas, but it’s important that after such a relentless 2022, tradespeople get the break they deserve.
“Wherever possible, we would urge workers to push jobs back slightly and take the time to rest and be with their loved ones.”
Due to the rise in energy bills and tax increases, almost two in five (39%) UK tradespeople will have to work on at least one of the bank holidays – Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s Day.
Meanwhile, the study found younger workers feeling the pinch are far more likely to work throughout the festive season, with over a third of millennial tradespeople – 35% of 25-34-year-olds – doing jobs on Christmas Day, just ahead of Gen Z – 30% of those aged 18-24s.
The survey also found that although on average tradespeople say they are planning on taking five days off this December, they’re unlikely to be able to fully relax, as one in six (17%) said friends and family had jobs around the house lined up for them.
Featured image credit: Adam Bushnell, Joinery
