GRAPHIC COURTESY OF HOUSECALL PRO
Housecall Pro, a software platform serving more than 180,000 home service professionals, including pest management professionals (PMPs), has released findings from its Fall 2024 report. The report, based on a survey of more than 400 home services professionals, highlights four trends shaping the future of the home services industry: growing business confidence, rising demand for skilled labor, the trades’ appeal as a stable career path and the expanding adoption of artificial intelligence (AI).
Pros confident in 2025 growth
According to the survey, 77 percent of home service professionals expect to grow their businesses in 2025, with 40 percent expecting to grow by more than 10 percent. Despite challenges like inflation and rising material costs, professionals remain optimistic.
“The home services industry has proven its resilience in 2024, navigating economic uncertainty and inflation,” Roland Ligtenberg, Housecall Pro co-founder and senior vice president of innovation, noted in a news release. “This strength, paired with increasing demand for skilled trades, provides a solid foundation for continued success.”
Trades offer a stable career path amid ongoing skilled labor shortage
The report underscores the appeal of trade careers as a stable and rewarding alternative to traditional college paths. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projected more than 13,100 annual job openings for pest control through 2033, growing faster than the average for all occupations by 7 percent. Nearly 80 percent of service professionals surveyed believe the trades provide a more stable career path than college, while 86 percent anticipate rising demand for skilled workers over the next five years.
The report also emphasizes the need for mentorship and training as experienced professionals retire, with 80 percent of pros saying increasing mentorship, apprenticeships and education are key to solving the skilled labor shortage.
Businesses embracing AI to drive efficiency and growth
The survey also highlights the growing role of AI in the home services industry. Forty-two percent of professionals reported using AI tools in the past year, citing benefits such as increased efficiency, revenue growth and improved job management. Looking ahead, 44 percent of respondents say they believe AI will continue to enhance roles in the trades rather than replace them.
“Skilled workers in the trades are uniquely positioned to adopt AI tools that streamline workflows and improve efficiency, without the fear of job displacement,” said Ligtenberg. “By pairing advanced technology with skilled human expertise, the industry is not only boosting productivity but also attracting the next generation of talent to the trades.”
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