Author: Brett Knox
February 28, 2025 - 5 MIN. READ
Growth drives growth—it’s a business fundamental. Across the U.S., key industries are doing way more than just growing: they are thriving, expanding, and modernizing fast!
For contractors in the trades, these booming markets represent a treasure trove of opportunities. It’s a gateway to long-term partnerships as electric and HVAC needs evolve.
If you’re looking for a more strategic way to grow your business, here are four key markets to watch in 2025.
Top Opportunities for Contractors: Data Centers
You’ve heard of AI, but have you heard about data centers, the high-tech buildings that power AI models?
Data centers store data and host the powerful hardware that trains and runs AI models. To give you an idea of the amount of power required, training a model like ChatGPT consumes 1,300 megawatt hours, equivalent to what 130 U.S. homes use in a year.
You might think data centers are primarily outsourced to countries with cheaper electricity. Think again: 45% are in the U.S.
From effective HVAC solutions that can cool hardware to complex three-phase electrical systems, data centers need commercial contractors to deliver reliable solutions on a large scale.
Upgrading Healthcare Buildings
Healthcare is currently one of the strongest sectors driving the U.S. economy, making it a safe bet for your contractor business.
As a whole, the healthcare industry is going through major shifts and embracing modernization, especially when it comes to facility design.
New construction is up, and these cutting-edge buildings will likely need advanced electrification solutions. But here's the interesting part: many organizations find that upgrading their existing buildings can be just as effective and much more budget-friendly.
Besides supporting company-wide ESG goals, upgrading healthcare buildings reduces energy and operational costs. Many buildings are embracing innovative solutions like solar microgrids, while others are installing advanced battery backup systems, which turn healthcare buildings into community lifelines during emergencies.
For HVAC contractors, the focus on indoor air quality is opening up a world of possibilities. And don't think healthcare is limited to just hospitals and clinics. The sector spans everything from pharmaceutical research spaces to medical device manufacturing plants, offering multiple opportunities for growth.
The Warehouse Boom
What’s new for this $41 billion industry?
A warehouse boom is happening, creating exciting opportunities for commercial contractors:
- More warehouses are being built to meet growing demand. Micro-fulfillment centers are popping up, bringing inventory closer to consumers. There is no slowdown in sight, with the U.S. potentially needing another 1 billion square feet of warehouse space by the end of 2025.
- Warehouses are also growing in size due to the constant growth of the eCommerce market and inventory diversification.
- A new generation of warehouses is emerging. Technologies like robotics automation are transforming inventory management and order fulfillment.
These high-tech warehouses need advanced power solutions, and some are upgrading their electrical infrastructure to start rolling out electric fleets for last-mile deliveries.
Let’s not forget climate control. Today’s warehouses need state-of-the-art HVAC solutions that allow for precise control over temperature and humidity levels for proper inventory storage.
Public Buildings and New Opportunities for Contractors
In 2024, the Department of Energy launched an ambitious project: a plan to electrify all federal buildings. This decision created a push for greener public buildings on a larger scale.
If your business doesn’t quite have the scope to go after federal contracts, there are plenty of opportunities to explore at the local level, with state and city buildings embracing Building Performance Standards and investing in renovation projects.
Besides cutting energy bills, these standards create a roadmap to greener buildings, giving public entities a clear picture of what the buildings of tomorrow will look like.
The best part? These changes are happening in your community. Your state, city, township, local schools, and other public entities are looking for retrofitting, electrical, and HVAC experts. Projects include electric HVAC, energy management solutions, building automation, renewables integration, and more.
How big is this market exactly? It’s huge. After all, one-sixth of building square footage is owned by state and local governments in the U.S.
Explore New Opportunities for Contractors With Raiven
These four markets represent four opportunities to specialize and deliver industry-specific electric or HVAC solutions. With sustained growth in these markets, specializing can lead to larger projects, repeat business, and ongoing revenues from maintenance contracts.
As you grow your trades business, it’s important to surround yourself with the right partners. Look for those who will support your vision and help build a strong foundation for your business.
As a leading purchasing platform, Raiven can become one of these partners and take your buying to the next level as you develop your specialization strategy.
Summary: Trades contractors can unlock growth opportunities by focusing on thriving industries in 2025. From data centers to warehouses, we explore the markets worth specializing in.
