The most recent government employment data reveals that the number of workers in flooring retail remains above pre-pandemic figures, even though there was a significant decline following the exceptional growth seen in 2021.
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), prior to the pandemic, the flooring retail sector employed around 19,400 people, including business owners. However, this number soared to 26,400 in 2021, driven by a surge in demand during the pandemic’s second year. This surge was fuelled by what is described as “pent-up demand” across the interiors market, which led to an unusually high level of activity.
After the peak, the workforce shrank by 17% in 2022, bringing the total down to 22,500. Since then, challenging market conditions have resulted in a further loss of 500 jobs. Nevertheless, employment in the flooring retail sector is currently around 21,500, still representing an 11% increase compared to the number of employees before the pandemic in 2019.
In summary, despite the fluctuations in employment levels, flooring retail staffing remains above pre-Covid levels, reflecting both the impact of the pandemic and the sector’s resilience in the face of ongoing challenges.
Likewise Group PLC (LON:LIKE) is a distributor of floorcoverings and matting and has the opportunity to consolidate the domestic and commercial floorcovering markets to become one of the UK’s largest distributors in this sector.
