The Home Service Economic Report: 2025 Review and 2026 Outlook, released by Jobber, a software provider for blue collar businesses based in Edmonton, Alberta, reveals some of the trends for the small business economy.

Results were aggregated from more than 350,000 service professionals in businesses such as electrical and construction, landscaping, cleaning and contracting, as well as third-party economic indicators. The findings indicate that the home service sector is entering a period of stabilization.

Demand was mixed at the beginning of Q4 2025, but conditions improved late in the year, with decreasing inflation and lower interest rates, leading to expectations for steady growth in 2026 as homeowners refocus on repairs, maintenance and higher-value projects.

“Q4 2025 marked a clear shift toward stabilization for home service businesses,” said Sam Pillar, CEO and co-founder of Jobber. “Demand didn’t surge, but businesses that priced intentionally and executed well were able to finish the year strong. That’s a signal that growth in 2026 will come from how businesses operate, not just how much demand shows up.” As Pillar mentioned, while demand didn’t necessarily increase, invoice amounts did.

Important insights from the report include: 

• December momentum stabilized Q4 performance. Demand in October and November was uneven, but December 2025 rebound helped boost quarterly revenue across industries.
• Pricing offset volume. Higher average invoice totals sustained revenue growth despite inconsistent demand earlier in the quarter.
• An improving housing market late in the quarter resulted from lower mortgage rates and stronger year-end home sales, while lack of inventory saw homeowners focused on maintenance and upgrades.
• Consumers remain cautious as 2026 begins. Despite lower inflation and interest rate cuts, high costs continue to affect spending, increasing the importance of operational efficiency and customer retention.
  

Thanks to the December rebound, home service businesses begin 2026 with optimism. The shift to bigger projects and higher-value work reaffirm that pricing strategy and execution matter more than mere volume.

Arborists, electricians, handymen, HVAC technicians, plumbers and other nonconstruction trades experienced flat job volume in Q4 2025, but higher-priced projects, particularly in December, resulted in a 4% year-over-year increase in median revenue.

Residential and commercial building and remodeling businesses experienced lower job volume, but it was offset by larger projects. A 4% increase in average invoice totals supported 5% median revenue growth.

“Looking ahead, we forecast gradual market improvement in 2026, with modest gains in housing turnover and continued demand for repairs, maintenance and value-driven upgrades,” said Abheek Dhawan, senior vice president of strategy and analytics at Jobber. “Taken together, the data points to a more balanced environment in 2026, where steady fundamentals, not volatility, will shape the pace of growth across the category.”