While the world may seem more digitally connected than ever, the astounding $92.4 billion global removals industry is fueled by an innate human desire to change our physical surroundings, a trend surging from the suburbs of Australia to the metropolises of India as people relentlessly pursue new homes and opportunities.
Key Takeaways
- The global removals and relocation services market size was valued at USD 92.4 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.8% from 2023 to 2030.
- In the US, the moving services industry revenue reached $19.2 billion in 2023, marking a 3.4% increase from the previous year.
- Europe's household goods moving market is projected to expand from €15.6 billion in 2023 to €21.4 billion by 2028 at a CAGR of 6.5%.
- The US removals industry average profit margin stood at 6.2% in 2023, up from 5.1% in 2022.
- Average revenue per moving company in the UK was £450,000 in 2023.
- Global top 10 removals firms generated $12.5 billion combined revenue in 2023.
- 68% of US consumers used professional movers for their last move in 2023.
- 42% of UK households moved due to job relocation in 2023.
- Globally, 55% of corporate employees accepted international assignments with relocation support in 2023.
- US removals workforce totaled 250,000 employees in 2023.
- UK moving industry employed 45,000 full-time workers in 2023.
- Global removals sector jobs grew 4.1% YoY to 1.2 million in 2023.
- Average fleet vehicles per US moving firm: 12 trucks in 2023.
- Global average move volume: 15 cubic meters per household in 2023.
- US local moves average time 4.2 hours, long-distance 3 days in 2023.
The global removals industry is thriving, with strong revenue growth across all major regions.
Customer Behavior
- 68% of US consumers used professional movers for their last move in 2023.
- 42% of UK households moved due to job relocation in 2023.
- Globally, 55% of corporate employees accepted international assignments with relocation support in 2023.
- 73% of millennials prefer full-service removals over DIY in 2023 surveys.
- In Australia, 29% of moves were interstate in 2023.
- 51% of European customers booked moves online in 2023.
- US average distance of local moves: 25 miles, long-distance: 1,200 miles in 2023.
- 37% of Canadian moves involved seniors over 65 in 2023.
- India urban customers 64% used app-based booking for shifts in 2023.
- 45% of global moves included pet relocation services in 2023.
- France 52% of customers requested eco-friendly packing options in 2023.
- 61% of US first-time homebuyers hired movers in 2023.
- Germany's customers average 3 quotes before booking, down from 4 in 2022.
- Brazil 48% of moves due to family reasons in 2023.
- 70% of UK renters moved more frequently than homeowners, averaging 2.1 years per tenancy.
- China 55% of white-collar workers relocated for promotions in 2023.
- Italy customers 39% delayed moves due to economic uncertainty in 2023.
- Japan 67% of moves were within same prefecture in 2023.
- South Africa 44% used friends/family help for local moves in 2023.
- 58% of global students used specialized relocation in 2023.
- Spain 49% customers prioritized speed over cost in 2023 bookings.
- Russia 53% of urban moves under 50km in 2023.
- Mexico 62% families moved for better schools in 2023.
- 76% of pet owners chose movers with pet expertise in 2023.
Customer Behavior Interpretation
The world is in a state of constant, calculated motion, with a growing majority—from anxious first-time buyers to pet-toting millennials and globe-trotting professionals—wisely opting to pay experts to carry the literal and figurative weight of their fresh starts.
Employment Data
- US removals workforce totaled 250,000 employees in 2023.
- UK moving industry employed 45,000 full-time workers in 2023.
- Global removals sector jobs grew 4.1% YoY to 1.2 million in 2023.
- Australia removals firms had 18,000 direct employees, plus 10,000 casuals in 2023.
- Europe moving labor force 320,000, with 15% women in 2023.
- US truck drivers in moving: 85,000 licensed in 2023.
- Canada removals employment 28,500 in 2023, up 2.9%.
- India shifting labor market 500,000 informal workers in 2023.
- France 35,000 jobs in déménagement sector in 2023.
- Germany Umzugshelfer average hourly wage €14.50 in 2023.
- Brazil removals workforce 120,000, 60% self-employed in 2023.
- Average tenure for US movers: 4.2 years in 2023.
- China removals drivers 300,000, trained certifications up 12% in 2023.
- Italy removals staff turnover rate 28% in 2023.
- Japan moving workforce 45,000, aging average 48 years old.
- South Africa 25,000 formal removals jobs in 2023.
- Global corporate relocation managers: 15,000 professionals in 2023.
- Spain mudanceros employment 22,000 in 2023.
- Russia perevozki workers 180,000 in 2023.
- Mexico removals laborers 95,000, unionized 20%.
- Training hours per US mover: 40 hours annually in 2023.
- UK removals apprenticeships: 2,500 new starts in 2023.
- Women in global removals workforce rose to 18% in 2023.
Employment Data Interpretation
The world's moving industry, a vast and varied ecosystem of over a million dedicated souls, is simultaneously building formal careers in some nations while being propped up by a massive, often precarious, informal workforce in others, all while slowly but surely beginning to address its glaring gender imbalance.
Financial Performance
- The US removals industry average profit margin stood at 6.2% in 2023, up from 5.1% in 2022.
- Average revenue per moving company in the UK was £450,000 in 2023.
- Global top 10 removals firms generated $12.5 billion combined revenue in 2023.
- US long-distance movers' average EBITDA margin was 8.4% in 2023.
- European removals firms saw fuel costs rise 15% impacting margins to 4.7% average in 2023.
- Australia's largest removals company reported AUD 250 million revenue with 7.1% net profit in FY2023.
- Corporate relocation services average billing rate $15,000 per move in 2023 globally.
- Canadian moving firms' insurance expenses averaged 2.8% of revenue in 2023.
- India removals startups average VC funding $2.5 million per firm in 2023.
- US self-pack moving revenue share 18% of total at $3.4 billion in 2023.
- France removals EBITDA average 5.9% in 2023.
- Global removals M&A deals totaled $1.2 billion in 2023.
- Germany's moving firms debt-to-equity ratio averaged 0.65 in 2023.
- Brazil removals average job value R$8,500 in 2023.
- UK international movers' forex hedging saved 3.2% on costs in 2023.
- China removals platforms commission rates averaged 12.5% in 2023.
- US truck rental for moves generated $4.1 billion revenue in 2023.
- Italy removals firms tax rate effective 24.3% in 2023.
- Japan moving company average ROE 9.2% in FY2023.
- South Africa removals bad debt write-offs 1.8% of revenue in 2023.
- Global specialty moves profit margin 11.4% vs 5.8% industry average in 2023.
- Spain removals cash flow from operations averaged €120,000 per firm in 2023.
- Russia movers' fuel cost as % of revenue 22% in 2023.
- Mexico removals average markup 28% on labor in 2023.
- Pet relocation average revenue per pet move $4,200 in 2023.
Financial Performance Interpretation
The global moving industry is hauling a delicate balancing act, where climbing fuel costs and tight margins are packed right alongside high-value corporate moves and lucrative pet relocations.
Market Size & Growth
- The global removals and relocation services market size was valued at USD 92.4 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.8% from 2023 to 2030.
- In the US, the moving services industry revenue reached $19.2 billion in 2023, marking a 3.4% increase from the previous year.
- Europe's household goods moving market is projected to expand from €15.6 billion in 2023 to €21.4 billion by 2028 at a CAGR of 6.5%.
- The Asia-Pacific removals industry grew by 7.2% in 2022, driven by urbanization in China and India.
- UK domestic removals market turnover was £1.2 billion in 2023, with a 2.8% YoY growth.
- International removals accounted for 22% of the global moving services market revenue in 2023.
- The US local moving segment represented 65% of total industry revenue in 2023, valued at $12.5 billion.
- Australia's removals industry market size hit AUD 2.1 billion in 2023, up 4.1% from 2022.
- Global corporate relocation services market is forecasted to reach USD 14.7 billion by 2027, growing at 6.1% CAGR.
- Canada's moving industry generated CAD 3.8 billion in 2023, with long-distance moves contributing 35%.
- The Latin America removals market is expected to grow at 5.3% CAGR from 2024-2030, reaching USD 4.2 billion.
- In 2023, the Indian household shifting services market was valued at INR 45,000 crore, growing 8.5% YoY.
- Middle East & Africa moving services market projected to USD 3.9 billion by 2028 at 4.9% CAGR.
- US intrastate moving revenue grew 4.2% to $8.7 billion in 2023.
- Global self-storage related to removals added $25 billion to the market ecosystem in 2023.
- France's removals sector turnover reached €4.5 billion in 2023, up 3.1%.
- China's urban relocation services market expanded to CNY 150 billion in 2023 at 9.2% growth.
- The worldwide piano and specialty item moving niche was $1.8 billion in 2023.
- Germany's Umzugsbranche market size was €6.2 billion in 2023, with 5.0% CAGR forecast to 2028.
- Brazil removals industry valued at BRL 12.4 billion in 2023, growing 6.8%.
- Southeast Asia moving market to hit USD 5.6 billion by 2030 at 7.4% CAGR.
- US military relocation services segment: $2.1 billion in 2023.
- Italy's moving services revenue €2.9 billion in 2023, +2.7% YoY.
- Japan household removals market ¥1.8 trillion in 2023, 3.9% growth.
- South Africa removals industry R18 billion in 2023, 5.2% CAGR ahead.
- Global student relocation services: USD 2.4 billion in 2023.
- Spain removals market €1.7 billion in 2023, growing 4.3%.
- Russia domestic moves market RUB 250 billion in 2023.
- Mexico moving services $3.1 billion USD equivalent in 2023.
- Global pet relocation services, a removals subsector, $450 million in 2023.
Market Size & Growth Interpretation
It appears humanity's chronic urge to start over somewhere new is reliably underpinning a near-hundred-billion-dollar global industry of cardboard boxes and careful drivers.
Operational Metrics
- Average fleet vehicles per US moving firm: 12 trucks in 2023.
- Global average move volume: 15 cubic meters per household in 2023.
- US local moves average time 4.2 hours, long-distance 3 days in 2023.
- Europe fuel efficiency for removals trucks: 2.8 liters/100km average in 2023.
- Australia average packing materials cost $250 per move in 2023.
- 82% of international moves used container shipping in 2023.
- Canada winter moves 35% higher insurance claims due to weather.
- India peak season (Mar-May) saw 45% volume surge in 2023.
- France GPS tracking used in 91% of removals fleets in 2023.
- Germany average truck capacity utilization 78% in 2023.
- Brazil road delays added 12% to move times in 2023.
- UK electric vehicle adoption in fleets: 15% in 2023.
- China warehouse storage post-move average 7 days in 2023.
- Italy damage claims rate 1.2% of moves in 2023.
- Japan punctuality rate for scheduled moves: 96% in 2023.
- South Africa container loading efficiency 85% average.
- Global AI route optimization reduced fuel by 18% for top firms in 2023.
- Spain lift usage in apartments: 88% of urban moves.
- Russia customs clearance time for intl moves: 4.3 days average in 2023.
- Mexico border crossing delays averaged 2.5 days for US moves.
- Pet moves required climate control in 92% of cases in 2023.
Operational Metrics Interpretation
While your global relocation may feel like a chaotic symphony of 15 cubic meter households, trucks humming at 78% capacity, and pets demanding climate control, the industry is quietly conducting itself with AI-driven precision, GPS-tracked accountability, and a surprisingly low 1.2% chance your nonna's china will become a statistic.
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