The industry today — jobs, demand and future
Where do chimney sweeps work, and how do the job prospects look?
The chimney sweep profession is small in numbers but stable in demand. Because part of the work is legally required, there is a fundamental and sustained demand for trained chimney sweeps. Here we look at where you work and how the future looks for the profession.
§Where do chimney sweeps work?
Most chimney sweeps are employed by a chimney sweep master and drive out to residential homes summer cottages institutions and companies in an area. Some become self-employed masters over time with their own business and employees. The work is mobile and independent: you often plan your own route and meet many different customers and facilities in a day.
- 01Employed by a chimney sweep master with a fixed customer area.
- 02Self-employed chimney sweep master with own business.
- 03Work in private homes, holiday homes, institutions and businesses.
- 04Broad work field: cleaning, inspection, measurement, troubleshooting and customer advice.
§Stable demand and good employment figures
The craft is characterized by very low unemployment. Figures for new graduates show that nearly all find work, and unemployment remains low even years after qualifying. That's because legally mandated work must be performed regardless of business cycles — people don't stop heating because the economy fluctuates.
§A trade in change — energy and environment
The way we heat our homes is changing. More are switching to heat pumps and district heating while wood stoves and pellet fires are still widespread. For the chimney sweep this means the trade is moving: in addition to classical cleaning, energy advice, measurement, control of combustion and guidance on environmentally sound heating are increasingly important. The modern chimney sweep is to a great extent also an energy and environmental advisor.
§What it takes to thrive in the trade
The industry suits you well if you like independent, physical work that varies from day to day and you are good with people. You come to many different customers and a large part of the job is explaining, advising and creating security. Technical curiosity and orderliness are good qualities — and a certain robustness to weather, height and dirt.
§The future of the trade
Although heating methods change the need for inspection of exhaust prevention of fire and advice on efficient and environmentally responsible firing does not disappear. Quite the opposite the new demands for energy and indoor climate give the trade new tasks. The chimney sweep evolves from only removing soot to being a broader professional around combustion exhaust and energy in the home.