Alternix has surveyed 1,000 UK workers to reveal which industries smoke the most and which uses vape or other nicotine products.
Which industry smokes the most?
According to our research, the media and internet industry smokes the most out of all industries in the UK. Over half (57%) of workers smoke tobacco products, 14% have quit within the last five years and 29% of the industry have quit more than five years ago. Currently, 11% of Brits smoke tobacco products.
IT workers follow in second place, with two in five (43%) of workers smoking tobacco products. Just 3% of the industry vapes, with 32% of IT workers quitting smoking within the last five years. Over one in ten (14%) have never smoked or used nicotine products before.
Social care completes the top three industries smoking the most, with over a third (36%) of workers admitting to smoking tobacco products. The same number of workers (36%) have never smoked or used nicotine products before, with 14% quitting smoking within the last five years and 7% quitting more than five years ago.
Leisure, sport and tourism workers smoke the least, with none of the respondents admitting to smoking tobacco products. Two in five (42%) have quit within the last five years, a third (32%) quit more than five years ago and over a quarter (26%) have never smoked or used nicotine products.
The top ten industries that smoke the most
| Rank | Industry | Percentage of Workers that Smoke Tobacco Products |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Media and internet | 57% |
| 2 | Information technology | 43% |
| 3 | Social care | 36% |
| 4 | Accountancy, banking and finance | 34% |
| 5 | Sales | 33% |
| 6= | Engineering and manufacturing | 32% |
| 6= | Property and construction | 32% |
| 8 | Business, consulting and management | 28% |
| 9 | Transport and logistics | 27% |
| 10 | Creative arts and design | 26% |
Which industry smokes the least?
The leisure, sport and tourism industry smokes the least, with 0% of respondents smoking tobacco products. 0% of the industry vape or use any nicotine products, with two in five (42%) having quit smoking within the last five years, and a third (32%) quitting over five years ago.
Charity and voluntary work, healthcare, and marketing, advertising and PR smoke the joint second least, with just 7% of the industry smoking tobacco products. Almost two thirds (62%) of the marketing, advertising and PR industry have never smoked, the charity and voluntary sector follows with 44% and healthcare with 40% never smoking.
The top ten industries that do not smoke tobacco products
| Rank | Industry | Percentage of Workers that Do Not Smoke Tobacco Products |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leisure, sport and tourism | 0% |
| 2= | Charity and voluntary work | 7% |
| 2= | Healthcare | 7% |
| 2= | Marketing, advertising and PR | 7% |
| 5 | Environment and agriculture | 8% |
| 6 | Law | 10% |
| 7 | Science and pharmaceuticals | 11% |
| 8= | Hospitality and events management | 14% |
| 8= | Teacher training and education | 14% |
| 10 | Public services and administration | 17% |
What industry vapes or uses nicotine products the most?
Property and construction workers use vapes or nicotine products the most, with over one in ten (11%) workers doing so. Legislation came into force in 2007 which restricted smoking in closed, or partially closed, workplace environments - including construction sites. The use of vaping isn’t strictly regulated, but employers may set their own policies, suggesting why property and construction workers may be the highest users of vapes and other nicotine products, such as nicotine pouches. Nicotine pouches can help you decrease your nicotine intake after opting to quit tobacco products.
10% of law, transport and logistics, and healthcare workers vape or use other nicotine products. Two in five (40%) workers in the law and healthcare sectors have never smoked or used nicotine products, with over a third (34%) of transport workers also have never smoked.
The top ten industries using vapes or nicotine products
| Rank | Industry | Percentage of Industry Using Vapes or Nicotine Products |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Property and construction | 11% |
| 2= | Law | 10% |
| 2= | Transport and logistics | 10% |
| 2= | Healthcare | 10% |
| 5 | Teacher training and education | 9% |
| 6 | Energy and utilities | 8% |
| 7 | Social care | 7% |
| 10= | Retail | 5% |
| 10= | Accountancy, banking and finance | 5% |
| 10= | Creative arts and design | 5% |
Does gender make a difference?
Over a quarter (28%) of men are currently smoking, compared to 22% of women. Women are more likely to quit now, with 23% quitting smoking within the last five years, compared to just 13% of men. Men were more likely to have quit more than five years ago, with 19% of men quitting smoking before 2020, compared to 12% of women.
6% of men currently vape, with 4% of women opting for vapes or other nicotine products, such as nicotine pouches or nicotine strips.
Nearly two in five (39%) of women have never smoked tobacco or used nicotine products, compared to 34% of men.
Methodology
We conducted a survey of 1,000 UK respondents asking them if they currently smoke tobacco products, or if they ever have in the past. Their age, gender, age and industry in which they work was recorded. The highest percentage that said they smoked tobacco products was deemed the industry that smoked the most.
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Disclaimer: The content presented on www.alternix.com is for informational purposes only and is centered around nicotine pouches and heated tobacco products—alternatives to traditional smoking methods. The information provided on this website, including blog posts and social media interactions, is not intended as medical advice, nor should it substitute for professional medical guidance or treatment.
