Market Research

At ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR magazine, we constantly analyze our market and our readers. With substantial research investments, this part of our mission is vital to understanding the industry and providing our readers and industry partners with the most complete, comprehensive and accurate electrical construction media available.

Watch the 2018 Profile Highlights Video

Profile of the Electrical Contractor

2018 Profile of the Electrical Contractor: Tools and Equipment

This breakout study focuses on the EC's use, purchase and lease of tools and equipment.

2018 Profile of the Electrical Contractor: Testers, Meters Software and More

This breakout study focuses on the EC's use, purchase, rental, and lease of testers, meters, software and more.

2018 Profile of the Electrical Contractor: Vehicles

This breakout study focuses on the EC's ownership, purchase and lease of vehicles.

2018 Profile of the Electrical Contractor: Role in DB and DA

This breakout study focuses on the EC's role in design/build and design/assist.

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Monthly Subscriber Research Panel

ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR's monthly subscriber research panel asks print magazine and newsletter subscribers questions about the industry, the magazine, its website and newsletter, and the products and services that contractors use. As an incentive, respondents are entered into a monthly drawing for a $200 Amazon e-gift card. If you request to join, our research analysts will contact you within the next week by email.

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Baxter Readership Studies

Baxter Research Center studies are conducted via e-mail survey four issues per year gauging advertising and editorial success. This research measures the effectiveness of an advertisement's or editorial's ability to attract and retain the reader's attention in its respective issue. Click below to view our recent study results.

See the Archive

Your Business

Aug 2018

2018 Profile of the Electrical Contractor, Part 2: Getting to Work

Chuck Ross

We covered a lot of ground in the first installment of the 2018 Profile of the Electrical Contractor . We learned electrical contractors are getting older, primarily work for smaller companies and mostly saw their firms’ head...

Your Business

Jul 2018

2018 Profile of the Electrical Contractor

Chuck Ross

Twenty-five is the most significant number in the 2018 Profile of the Electrical Contractor research study findings. It means you’re wearing many more and different hats than ever before. In the 2004 study, traditional...

Editor's Pick

Your Business

Jan 2018

2018 Construction Outlook

Jeff Gavin

If the economy went in for a checkup, the doctor would likely say, “Keep doing what you’re doing.” Overall, things are positive with no surprises. We’re at full employment. Inflation is in check. The stock market is confident...

Bonotom Studio Inc. / Stock / KBEIS / Shutterstock / DigitalReflections / Kovalov Anatolii

Editor's Pick

Your Business

Jan 2017

2017 Construction Outlook

Jeff Gavin

In 2017, construction is expected to regain momentum after an underwhelming performance in 2016. Just don’t anticipate an economy running like a high-performance racer. It will remain more like the “gets you where you need to...

Editor's Pick

Your Business

Aug 2016

2016 Profile of the Electrical Contractor, Part 2

Chuck Ross

We began coverage of our biennial Profile of the Electrical Contractor survey last month with a discussion of demographics and trends in the age of today’s electrical contractors (ECs) and their firms, along with the types of...

Editor's Pick

Your Business

Jul 2016

2016 Profile of the Electrical Contractor

Chuck Ross

It’s that time again when we call on expert pollsters to help us learn more about our readers and the work they are doing in the field. More than 2,400 of you responded to our questionnaire earlier this year, through snail...

Editor's Pick

Your Business

Jan 2016

2016 Construction Outlook

Jeff Gavin

Economists coined the term “half-fast” to describe the financial recovery. It’s an economy in flight, but it isn’t quite soaring. Dodge Analytics calls it “a mixture of headwinds and tailwinds.” For example, 2015 construction...

Editor's Pick

Your Business

Jan 2015

2015 Construction Outlook: An Economic Recovery Finds Its Footing

Jeff Gavin

Enough pauses. We are finally in the midst of a sustained recovery. Fundamentals are strong. Growth is ever steady, and momentum assuredly recovers when unexpected events such as severe weather hit. While the pace of the...

Editor's Pick

Your Business

Aug 2014

2014 Profile of the Electrical Contractor, Part 2

Chuck Ross

Last month, We began our exploration of how—and how much—today’s electrical contractors (ECs) are working, with Part 1 of our coverage of the 2014 Profile of the Electrical Contractor. We focused on the kind of work ECs are...

Editor's Pick

Your Business

Jul 2014

2014 Profile of the Electrical Contractor

Chuck Ross

So, tell us, how the heck are you? Oh, wait, we already asked  you that while conducting our recent Profile of the Electrical Contractor research study. More than 2,700 of you responded, using snail mail and the Internet,...

Editor's Pick

Your Business

Jan 2014

2014 Construction Outlook: A year for perseverance and growth

Jeff Gavin

If the 2013 economy were a horse race, it often trotted more than galloped. This fifth year of recovery was modest. Construction stayed in the race and reflected an economy that expanded in different ways. Sometimes growth...