The restoration industry is facing a structural workforce shortage that is constraining growth and limiting the industry's capacity to respond to the increasing frequency of natural disasters, according to a new survey from the Restoration Industry Association.
The RIA's 2026 Workforce Survey found that 74 percent of restoration contractors identified workforce shortage as their top operational challenge — up from 61 percent in 2024. The average time to fill a certified technician position has increased to 47 days.
The shortage is most acute for AMRT-certified mold remediation technicians and FSRT-certified fire restoration specialists, where demand is growing faster than the training pipeline can produce qualified candidates.
Wages have responded accordingly. Average hourly wages for certified restoration technicians increased 14 percent between 2023 and 2025, with the largest gains in markets with high disaster frequency — Florida, Texas, California, and the Gulf Coast states.
Contractors are responding with signing bonuses for certified technicians, in-house training programs, partnerships with community colleges, and targeted recruitment from military veterans.
The AI-to-trades career shift is beginning to provide some relief. Contractors in major metropolitan areas report an uptick in applications from career changers with white-collar backgrounds — a cohort that brings customer service skills and business literacy that can accelerate advancement into project management roles.
