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After a turbulent year, the field service industry is seeing renewed momentum, driven by retail reinvestment and rising demand in key technology categories. In our recent webinar, Wael Mohammed, EVP of Strategy at Field Nation, shared marketplace data and insights to help service leaders navigate 2026 and beyond.
1. The expertise chasm reshapes workforce strategy (6:50)
The labor market is telling two stories. Unemployment is rising (approaching 4.6–4.7%), but experienced technician availability remains tight. Over 50–60% of field service workers are 45 years or older, and experienced techs are exiting faster than they’re being replaced.
The takeaway: Build flexible, hybrid workforce models. Retain your best talent and tap into large labor pools to access experienced technicians when you need them.
2. Retail reinvestment fuels field service growth (10:00)
Retailers are releasing CapEx for refreshes and remodels. The uptick in investment is fueled by three factors: consistent sales growth, pandemic-era equipment aging out, and competitive pressure from retailers focused on digital experiences.
This means more POS refreshes, self-checkout installations, electronic shelf labels, networking upgrades (including Wi-Fi 7 rollouts), digital signage, and AI-powered security systems. Quick-serve restaurants are following the same playbook, shrinking dine-in footprints and investing heavily in smarter drive-through technology.
3. Technology categories gaining momentum (30:50)
Field Nation marketplace data points to strong double-digit growth in several categories:
- Data centers: Exploding demand driven by AI computing, chip upgrades, and capacity expansion
- Physical security: IP camera upgrades for loss prevention plus shopping analytics
- AV and digital signage: LED video walls and “room in a box” conferencing setups are spreading across corporate and banking
- POS: Mobile POS and self-checkout formats are driving new installs
- Networking: Wi-Fi 7 upgrades are accelerating as digitalization puts pressure on wireless infrastructure
Strategic actions for service leaders (42:37)
To capitalize on these opportunities, we recommend three essential strategies:
- Go on offense with a granular view. Segment the market by vertical and technology to identify specific growth areas.
- Embrace digital and AI. Leverage AI agents to automate workflows, whether for profitable growth or cost savings you pass to clients.
- Variabilize or die. Fixed workforce models can’t respond to market volatility. Build hybrid models combining your core team with on-demand labor.
Prefer to read all 2026 Trends – check out our comprehensive Definitive Guide
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A note about our model: Field Nation is a software company and labor marketplace that enables companies to connect with thousands of independent contractors with skills in a variety of work types. Companies are responsible for defining and posting the work, negotiating and engaging the technician, and reviewing and approving each work order. Independent contractors are responsible for entering and updating their platform profiles to advertise their skills, experience, and preferences, as well as choosing when and how they want to work and manage their business.
