Plumbing has emerged as the country’s most recession-proof job.

According to training provider Train 4 Trade Skills, there are currently more than 30,000 unfilled plumbing vacancies across the UK, despite figures that show an average plumber earns between £30-35,000 per year and many earn more than £40,000.

Mike Head, marketing manager for Train 4 Trade Skills said: “With a conservative estimate of half a million jobs becoming redundant over the coming year, more and more workers are looking for career switches. Plumbing is well paid, flexible and plumbers are in demand.

“But what makes it so difficult for people to re-train is the need to earn an income. Most of us simply can’t return to college or become an apprentice on less than £100 a week, which is why courses such as ours that give flexibility and enable people to study in a variety of ways, from home, are so invaluable in the current economic climate.”