June 8, 2026 Labor Challenges in the Restoration Industry

There’s always demand for services in the restoration industry. Just dearth of people available to provide these services.

By Carlos Hesano, Co-Founder of DRYmedic Restoration Services and President of Restoration at Authority Brands

During the last ten years I’ve seen how restoration franchises and services changed from being small, highly fragmented companies into sophisticated service providers. Supported technology, utilizing professional management on a daily basis, and more complicated client needs than the previous decade. However, one challenge remains for companies and that is finding, training, and retaining high-quality employees.

At DRYmedic, we are a people-first company. The restoration comes after that. Property damage can be repaired. Water can be extracted. Structures can be rebuilt. However, none of this can occur unless there are sufficient qualified technicians. To be available to respond quickly to homeowners/business owners; communicate clearly; and work in high-pressure situations, when they need it most.

While most restoration jobs are done during ‘normal’ business hours, sometimes they extend to late nights and on the weekends; especially on extraordinary weather days. Technicians are expected to solve problems in such environments. And it is not possible without their technical knowledge, physical ability, and emotional intelligence. This is why recruiting qualified technicians is singularly the most important aspect of this industry.

I’ve spent much of my career building franchise systems and working with operators across multiple industries. One lesson remains consistent: businesses don’t scale because of systems alone. They scale because they hire, develop and retain the right people. 

As is the demand, so is the requirement for talented restoration technicians.  This trend can be attributed to several factors. First, a lot of experienced employees have retired, which has created a void within the workforce. Second, younger people are selecting different options (e.g., college vs. skilled trades); and finally, increased competition for qualified candidates.

For business owners in restoration, labor shortages are not just an HR issue or a loss of revenues (e.g., late response times). They are economically detrimental and have a long-lasting impact on their bottom-line revenues. Businesses that emerge healthy in the restoration sector will not necessarily be the ones that own the largest number of vehicles or cover the largest regions with their services. But rather the ones that promote a work environment that attracts and retains talented individuals who wish to create a career.

Although the workforce challenges that exist in restoration are significant, they are not insurmountable. Businesses that are willing to invest in employee training and leadership development, provide for employee career advancement, and establish a workplace culture that values the employee as a critical component of their respective organizations will thrive in the future.

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