As we sweep into 2025, embracing sustainability and technology will be key to the continued success of the cleaning industry in the UK.
Demand for cleaning services is higher than ever before. 17% of private households now use a cleaner, and demand for specialised commercial cleaning services continues to rise.
Due to many overseas workers leaving after Brexit, and other factors, severe staff shortages continue to thwart the industry.
Many are calling for the government to recognise cleaning and hygiene as a national priority, and a new industry apprenticeship scheme has been set up.
This article looks at the latest cleaning industry statistics for the UK, including household cleaning and commercial cleaning services. All the statistics quoted are the most up-to-date available at the time of publishing.
UK cleaning industry statistics at a glance
- The UK cleaning industry employs 1.47 million people in total.
- The UK cleaning industry market size was £59.8 billion in 2021.
- In 2023, there were 75,565 cleaning businesses in the UK – up from 73,655 in 2022.
- A new cleaning hygiene operative apprenticeship scheme was launched in January 2024.
- Cleaners in the UK can expect to earn an average salary of between £17,000-£24,000 depending on experience.
- Most cleaning businesses are small, with nine out of ten employing fewer than 10 people.
- Almost all cleaning businesses (99%) are independently owned.
- The industry as a whole employs more women than men, with 56% of workers female and 44% male. However, there are some notable differences across different roles. Landscaping services and the waste and resource management industry are dominated by men.
The state of the UK cleaning market
So, how much is the cleaning industry worth? It contributed a whopping £59.8 billion to the UK economy in 2021, and it looks as though it’s continuing to grow.
The most recent UK cleaning industry statistics show continuous year-on-year growth since 2010. Then, just under 46,000 companies were in operation. In 2023, the total number of cleaning businesses in the UK was around 75,565.
As a result, industry turnover has increased by 23% since 2015, in line with all economic growth.
The commercial cleaning market continues to do well, with demand growing for specialist services. The NHS are now outsourcing a lot of their cleaning, and there’s been growth in manufacturing in the UK, both of which has driven up client numbers for commercial cleaning companies.
Carpet and upholstery cleaning and other niche cleaning services are seeing a significant increase in demand.
Statistics also show that demand in the UK residential cleaning industry is on the rise, with an ageing population and an increase in under 35s hiring cleaners. In fact, 40% of under 35s now have a cleaner, as lifestyle choices begin to shift.
However, the future’s not all rosy. Industry experts agree that recruitment within cleaning is much harder today. The BCC predicted the UK cleaning industry would generate 93,000 new jobs by 2024, but that 29% of those jobs would be ‘hard to fill’.
UK cleaning industry employment statistics
The British Cleaning Council (BCC) found that the UK cleaning industry directly employs over 1 million (1,006,400) staff.
57% of those working in the industry are part-time.
Employees in the cleaning, hygiene, and waste disposal sector combined continue to make up around 5% of the UK’s entire workforce – 1.47 million people in total. This includes those working in non-core cleaning services, such as cabin crew or hospitality staff, who clean as part of their job.
The UK still comes fifth globally in terms of numbers of employees working as cleaners, making it a ‘top ten’ employer.
And the sector continues to grow, with 75,565 cleaning businesses in the UK in 2023.
Cleaning industry demographics
21% of the cleaning workforce are foreign-born. Although it varies greatly across different regions of the country, with 60% of workers in London from overseas.
According to statistics gathered between 2020 and 2021, cleaning industry growth varied across the UK. England and Northern Ireland experienced the biggest increase in the number of cleaning businesses at 4%, followed by 3% in Scotland and 1% in Wales.
The northeast of England saw the biggest spike in the number of cleaning businesses between 2020-2021, with 5% growth.
Number of cleaning businesses by UK nation in 2025
England – 60,420
Scotland – 4,460
Wales – 2,795
Northern Ireland – 1,330
Number of cleaning businesses by region in 2025
East – 7,410
East Midlands – 4,235
London – 12,430
North East – 1,790
North West – 6,425
South East – 11,365
South West – 6,740
West Midlands – 5,140
Yorkshire and Humber – 4,485
Commercial cleaning statistics
The commercial cleaning services market has the biggest share in the industry. Around 450,000 people work in commercial cleaning services.
The importance of maintaining hygiene and cleanliness in hospitals, offices, schools, hotels, retail outlets, and other public spaces is becoming more widely recognised. And this has lead to impressive growth in demand for commercial cleaning services.
In a recent survey, 61% of people said that seeing a cleaning and hygiene operative in a public space gave them confidence that health and safety measures were being taken seriously.
It’s particularly important for commercial cleaning companies to keep up with technological advancements in the cleaning industry, as smart technology and automation become an increasingly popular.
Cleaning industry trends for 2025
There are two major trends emerging as we head into 2025. Tech and green cleaning.
Industrial cleaning trends show that many commercial cleaning companies are now turning to robotic cleaners that can perform simple tasks, such as vacuum cleaning and floor scrubbing, without supervision.
While still in its infancy, the use of IoT ('Internet of Things') devices and smart technology in commercial cleaning is on the rise too. By using this kind of technology, cleaning services can monitor cleanliness levels as well as things like when equipment needs attention or dispensers needs topping up etc.
Both commercial and home cleaning trends show that being eco-friendly is no longer seen as a ‘nice-to-have’ or a luxury. The environmental impact of the cleaning industry is now at the forefront of everyone’s minds.
As we move into 2025, cleaners are moving away from the use of harsh chemicals and throw-away products. Instead opting for eco-friendly products and more sustainable practices.
Clean up your business protection
The cleaning industry provides a vital service. The role it played during the COVID-19 pandemic, the above-average number of deaths and hospitalisations in the UK due to flu infections, and the need to maintain high hygiene standards post-pandemic, underline the fact that there’ll always be a need for it.
However, any cleaning company, no matter what size and whether in the domestic, commercial, or waste management fields, needs cleaners’ insurance.
Because, unfortunately, the very nature of the business means things get broken, chemical fluids get spilled, and sometimes people get hurt. Especially when staff are under pressure.
All that costs money to fix, which is where self-employed cleaner insurance can help you. If damage is done, either in someone’s home or on a business’s premises, public liability insurance mops up the legal costs and any compensation you have to pay.
And if you have anyone working for you, you’ll need employers’ liability insurance to protect them in case of illness or injury at work. It’s the law.
You can find out more about insurance for cleaners on our website. Or call 0345 222 5391 to speak to our team.
Image used under license from Shutterstock.
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