According to a recent City and Guilds survey, over 80 per cent of plumbers were found to be financially better off, even during the recession, than they were during the same period in the previous year!Even though every year there will always be many existing plumbers and other trades personnel retiring earlier than normal, which can leave a significant shortage of trained and qualified skills, in the long term, plumbers are always going to be needed.In today's climate change environment, the urgency for installing renewable energy technology becomes ever more pressing and the demand for the specialist 'green energy' skills by plumbers will ensure their trade profession remains one of the most enduring, even in the economic uncertainties ahead.Building and construction trade skills, including plumbing, have always tended to come top of surveys for traditional careers with long term, solid prospects.?