Electrical Contractors
Industry Profile Report
Dive Deep into the industry with a 25+ page industry report (pdf format) including the following chapters
Industry Overview Current Conditions, Industry Structure, How Firms Operate, Industry Trends, Credit Underwriting & Risks, and Industry Forecast.
Call Preparation Call Prep Questions, Industry Terms, and Weblinks.
Financial Insights Working Capital, Capital Financing, Business Valuation, and Financial Benchmarks.
Industry Profile Excerpts
Industry Overview
The 77,500 electrical contractor firms in the US provide electrical installation, repair, and maintenance work. They handle wiring, lighting, networking, fire and safety equipment, and energy management systems, among other tasks. Much of the work is installation and repair of residential electrical wiring. Contractors must buy materials and then install them according to code in homes and other buildings.
Liability for Damages
Oftentimes builders or general contractors will try to cut corners, directing ECs to take shortcuts that violate code.
Demand Dependent on Construction Activity
Contractors can market new services such as design work during periods of low demand, but new construction ultimately drives the industry.
Industry size & Structure
An average electrical contractor has 14 employees and does $2.2 million in annual revenue.
- Overall, the electrical contractor industry has $173 billion in annual revenue and 1.1 million employees.
- Segments include power installation, telecommunications setup, fire and safety systems.
- 88% of establishments have fewer than 20 employees.
- About 41% of establishments do less than $500,000 a year in business.
- Large firms include Emcor Group (CT), Integrated Electrical Services (TX), and Rosendin Electric (CA).
Industry Forecast
Electrical Contractors Industry Growth
Recent Developments
Nov 12, 2024 - Multifamily Developer Confidence Mixed
- Multifamily developers’ confidence was mixed in the third quarter of 2024, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) latest Multifamily Market Survey. The Multifamily Production Index (MPI) rose two points in Q3 2024 to 40 compared to the third quarter of 2023. The Multifamily Occupancy Index decreased by seven points to 75 over the same period. An MPI or MOI reading of 50 or more indicates that multifamily production or occupancy, respectively, is growing. Multifamily developers’ headwinds include a tight lending environment, higher borrowing costs, regulations, and land availability. The NAHB forecasts that multifamily construction activity will remain weak for about another year amid a significant volume of projects under construction. Multifamily construction is expected to return to more robust growth near the end of 2025.
- The Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Construction Backlog Indicator fell 0.2 months to 8.4 months in October compared to September. Backlogs were flat compared to October 2023. The infrastructure segment backlog increased by 1 month to 8.9 months compared to September. The heavy industrial backlog fell by 0.8 months, and the commercial and institutional backlog dropped by 0.4 months. The ABC’s Construction Confidence Index for sales rose to 59 in October from 58.1 in November. A Confidence Index sales reading of 50 or more indicates most contractors are optimistic about sales. ABC Chief Economist Anirban Basu said that while the backlog fell in October, it remained healthy and has been stable throughout the year. October’s survey results showed that 53% of ABC members expect their sales to rise over the next six months, while only 22% expect sales to decline.
- Home remodeling spending is expected to resume more robust growth by the middle of 2025, according to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) report released in October by the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard. Homeowner improvements and repairs are expected to decrease 2.1% to $469 billion in the fourth quarter of 2024 compared to Q4 2023. In the first quarter of 2025, remodeling spending will drop 2.1% from Q1 2024 to $454 billion. Spending will then rise to $473 billion in Q2 2025, up 0.6% from Q2 2024. In the third quarter of 2025, year-over-year spending is forecast to increase by 1.2% to $477 billion. The Joint Center expects remodeling activity to be supported by improving existing home sales and higher home values, which will boost spending for necessary replacement and discretionary home improvement projects.
- North American construction and engineering spending in 2024 is expected to grow by about 5%, according to FMI’s fourth-quarter 2024 North American Engineering and Construction Outlook. With growth of 29%, public safety will lead 2024 nonresidential building construction, followed by manufacturing (21%), amusement and recreation (10%), transportation (5%), educational (4%), and religious (2%). Commercial construction spending is expected to decline 8% in 2024 amid weaker demand for warehousing space. Lodging construction spending is forecast to drop 6%, and stubbornly high office vacancies will continue to weigh on new office construction, which is projected to see spending rise 1% in 2024. Despite favorable demographic trends, project delays for some private hospital developments will cap healthcare construction spending growth at 1% in 2024. Amid moderating interest rates, single-family construction spending is forecast to rise 5% in 2024 as new home affordability remains competitive with existing home prices. Spending for multifamily is expected to decline by 4% in 2024 amid a recent wave of fresh inventory. The rise in available apartment units has contributed to flat or falling rents in some metros, prompting developers to pause new projects.
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