There are busy days, there are long days… and then there are 2026 days.
According to new research from Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, almost one in three UK tradespeople have considered walking away from the job altogether over the past year as longer working hours and mounting financial pressures take their toll.
The survey found that the average tradesperson now works 9.44 hours a day, that's 51 minutes longer than in 2022.
While it may not sound like much on paper, over the course of a working year it adds up to almost an extra month’s work. It’s little wonder then that 30% of those surveyed have thought about quitting.
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The youngest workers appear to be feeling the greatest strain. Almost half (45%) of tradespeople aged between 18 and 24 said they had considered leaving the industry, while 44% admitted they regularly worry about maintaining a healthy work-life balance and 39% cited constant overworking as a major source of stress.
The findings also highlight another growing concern for the industry. Three-quarters of van drivers believe there is already a shortage of skilled workers entering the trades, raising fears that more experienced workers leaving could make recruitment challenges even worse.
Van drivers are working longer, driving further… and paying more to do it
The latest Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles research isn’t the first time the manufacturer has highlighted the growing pressures facing Britain’s van drivers.
A similar study last year found the average working day had already climbed to 9.25 hours, up from 9.18 hours in 2023 and 8.59 hours (mentioned above) in 2022, suggesting the trend towards ever-longer days has shown little sign of slowing.
But it’s not just the hours that are increasing either. Volkswagen’s survey of 1,000 UK van drivers last year found that almost a third (31%) were driving more than 100 miles every working day, a significant jump from 23% a year earlier and 20% in 2022. Much of that increase has been attributed to the continued growth in home deliveries and online shopping, which has kept more vans on the road for longer.
Read last year's article Van drivers now working harder than ever before
Those extra miles come at a cost. The average weekly fuel bill rose 15% to £127.13, compared with £110.32 the previous year, piling further pressure on already stretched businesses.
The financial squeeze became so severe that 45% of drivers admitted they had turned down work because the numbers simply didn’t stack up after accounting for fuel and running costs.
Interestingly, almost two-thirds (62%) believed switching to an electric van would reduce their operating costs, highlighting how attitudes towards electrification are changing as fuel prices and vehicle running costs continue to rise.
Together with Volkswagen’s latest research, it shows that van drivers aren’t just working longer than they were a few years ago, they’re travelling further, spending more to stay on the road and (for a growing number) questioning whether the job is still worth it.
