EFCI news - how have cleaning companies evolved over time?

15th of November 2019
EFCI news - how have cleaning companies evolved over time?
EFCI news - how have cleaning companies evolved over time?

In June 2019 the EFCI published its Trend Report, The European Cleaning Industry 1995-2016. This statistical work presents a great deal of information about the cleaning companies in Europe and their evolution throughout the past 20 years. The report builds on the past editions of the EFCI survey published regularly since 1987 and on Eurostat’s most recent data. By using and sharing this report, the EFCI intends to promote the industry and enhance the sector’s competitiveness and image.

In this article, and based on the conclusions of the report, we will analyse what are the main characteristics of cleaning companies and how they have evolved over time.

Number of cleaning companies

In 2016, the total number of cleaning companies exceeded 277,000. This number more than doubled over the last 20 years, representing an average increase of 8,000 companies per year in Europe. Despite the decrease following the global crisis, the number of companies still grew with annual rates higher than three per cent.

The small and medium enterprises (SMEs) represent 98  per cent of the market (when excluding the self-employed). The growth in terms of companies’ numbers has been mainly driven by the significant increase of micro-businesses with between two and nine employees: in 2016, almost three out of four companies had indeed less than 10 employees.

Cleaning companies’ turnover

Overall, the total cleaning industry turnover tripled during the last 20 years to €107 billion in 2016. Companies with more than 250 employees generate 48  per cent of the total turnover whereas the other half was produced by SMEs. On the other hand, the turnover generated by companies between two and nine employees decreased slightly from 16  per cent to 13  per cent of the total turnover. Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the UK accounted for 69  per cent of the industry’s turnover in 2016.

EFCI’s Trend Report is available at www.efci.eu/wp-content/uploads/flipbooks/1/. Email: secretariat@efci.eu. Specific information about turnover evolution is available pages 15, 16, 18, 21 and 24.

• More news from the EFCI Trend Report in the November edition.

 

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