The cleaning sector contributes an enormous £55 billion to the UK economy and provides a vital service for workplaces, hospitals, schools, public spaces and homes. Despite employing 1.6 million people, it often goes unnoticed. It is if an invisible army of "cleaning fairies” make our world a clean and pleasant place. This infographic, courtesy of London-based cleaning services platform TidyChoice, sheds light on the industry. The infographic highlights the size and importance of the sector as well as identifying key trends in the commercial and domestic cleaning segments.

1. UK CLEANING
INDUSTRY
UK cleaning sector contributes £55bn a year to UK economy
970,000 direct workers and
1.6 million overall
(5% of the entire UK workforce)
Sub-sector includes cleaning of domestic, commercial and industrial buildings
£9 billion
turnover
21,000
businesses
480,000
workers
Top ten largest UK industries for employment
23% foreign-born workers
compared to 18% for UK overall
(63% London cleaning workers
are foreign-born)
65,000 businesses. 88%
less than 10 staff
Turnover increased 28% since
2013, double the 14%
turnover of UK economy
SIZE AND GROWTH
EMPLOYMENT
UK CLEANING INDUSTRY
SUB-SECTORS
CLEANING ACTIVITIES
SUB-SECTOR
GROWTH DRIVERS IN
DOMESTIC CLEANING
100% 100%
Total
79%
female
41%
migrants
TRENDS IN COMMERCIAL
CLEANING
TECHNOLOGICAL
DEVELOPMENTS
Autonomous cleaning machines eg floor cleaning
IoT smart devices eg washroom dispensers, air
quality control
Software eg real time resource management on
smart phone apps
ENVIRONMENTALLY
FRIENDLY CLEANING
Eco-friendly products
Biodegradable packaging and equipment
NORMALISATION
THROUGH GIG ECONOMY
Hiring cleaners now perceived as a necessity
and not a luxury
Gig economy normalises hiring home
services online
AVAILABILITY AND
AFFORDABILITY
Supply-side expansion due to rise of
gig economy
Increasing disposable income and low
unemployment up until 2019
INCREASED RECYCLING
Higher proportion of recycling
Clearer differentiation of waste streams
INCREASED FOCUS ON
LEISURE AND WELLBEING
Hiring a cleaner frees up valuable leisure time
as people work longer hours
Growing recognition that healthy living
conditions improve wellbeing
49%
17%
32%
48%
13%
26%
6%
9%
Cleaning
activities
Facilities
management
Waste and
resource
management
Landscape
service
activities
% Employment % Turnover
Source:
British Cleaning Council Research Report 2020
https://www.tidychoice.com