After several failed attempts to fix a plug, tap, or lock, you may end up calling a professional, and you are certainly not alone. Some household repairs remain tricky, especially when dealing with plumbing, electrical work, or security issues. But which professional is most in demand in the UK? We researched and analysed which handyman services are most frequently searched for online.
Pavers and plumbers most sought-after job professionals on the internet
Pavers and Plumbers are the most sought-after job professionals on the internet. Based on online search interest, pavers and plumbers appear to be the most sought-after professionals. Pavers top the list, with an average of 135,000 searches per month. This is not surprising, as well-laid paving is essential for both gardens and driveways. Plumbers are also popular, with 74,000 monthly searches. From leaky taps to clogged drains, plumbers solve everyday problems that can quickly get worse.
In third place are locksmiths and electricians, which together account for 60,500 searches a month. Whether it is being locked out or an electrical fault, these professionals are indispensable. Curious about the full top 10? We have mapped it visually below.
There are peaks in searches throughout the year, probably influenced by weather conditions. During extreme weather, such as rain or cold, demand for plumbers and electricians increases, for instance in case of frozen pipes or power cuts. Seasonal trends also play a role. For instance, gardeners are especially in demand in spring and summer, when people want to tidy up their gardens. Conversely, the demand for locksmiths can rise during holiday periods, when people lose their keys or need extra security for their homes.
Geographical differences
According to Google Trends, demand for professionals varies greatly by region and is often linked to local needs. For example, pavers are mostly sought in smaller villages and coastal towns such as Bexhill-on-Sea and Hambledon, where there is likely to be more demand for paving for gardens and driveways. In medium-sized towns such as Melksham and Bridlington, the need for locksmiths is high, presumably due to higher demand for security solutions in residential areas. Gardeners, on the other hand, are popular in greener areas such as Royal Tunbridge Wells and Great Bookham, where people often have larger gardens that require more maintenance. Roofers are notably sought after in Carlisle, possibly because of weather conditions that are more likely to lead to roof damage.
The searches show that occupations with an immediate need are searched for more often. Locksmiths and plumbers are popular, with an average of 60,500 and 74,000 searches per month, probably because of the urgency of their services. Roofers are less frequently searched, with 9,900 searches, but demand for them may rise sharply in bad weather. For gardeners, seasonality plays a big role. They have an average search volume of 18,100, with demand increasing in spring and summer.
The urgency of certain occupations
Search terms like ‘locksmith near me’ and ‘plumber near me’ have a huge online interest of 110,000 times a month. These are occupations that you often need quickly to solve a problem in your home. Furthermore, you want to be able to enter your home at all times. Your key broke while you were trying to unlock the door? Then you need a locksmith quickly. The same goes for your drain: does it no longer flush? Then you want a plumber on your doorstep within a day. This shows that some problems require immediate help. Not surprisingly, ‘electrician near me’ is also a popular search query.
On the other hand, terms such as ‘pavers near me’ and ‘bricklayer near me’ are much less frequently searched, with an average of 3,600 and 4,400 searches per month. This is because these jobs are usually pre-planned rather than needed immediately.
What about painters?
When it comes to painters, it is difficult to distinguish between searches for (professional) painting artists or painters for the home. Therefore, we did not include this profession in the paragraph on the most sought-after job. We did check in which towns a painter is most commonly searched for. This turns out to be in Stroud, Penryn, Shrewsbury, Margate and Tittensor. This may be due to the older buildings in these areas, where maintenance and renovation are more often needed. In addition, climate factors may also play a role. In coastal towns such as Margate, the sea air can make paint wear faster, while in rural and historic areas such as Shrewsbury and Stroud, regular painting is needed to keep properties in good condition.
Methodology
In order to identify the most relevant searches in the field of home professionals, plasticsheetsshop.co.uk has carried out a study of search trends. In order to carry out this study, the Google Keyword Planner and Google Trends tools were used to determine the keywords with the highest search volume in the period from 23 to 30 April.
