The 2025 Building Service Contractor Survey reveals how cleaning providers are navigating inflation, talent shortages and technology shifts, while investing in safety and innovation.
Australia’s commercial cleaning sector faces many of the same pressures shaping the global market, with new data from the 2025 Building Service Contractor (BSC) Survey highlighting the balancing act between cost control, workforce stability and rising client expectations.
Respondents pointed to labour shortages, cost pressures and digital transformation as the top challenges for BSCs today. One participant summed it up: attracting and retaining skilled staff while maintaining high service quality and operational efficiency has become a defining struggle. Inflation, higher wages and client pricing demands continue to squeeze margins, forcing contractors to sharpen both productivity and differentiation.
Beyond cost and staffing concerns, contractors also cited the need to stay current with evolving standards and innovations, as well as challenges around training, knowledge transfer and workforce ageing. Several respondents expressed concern over broader economic uncertainty and its knock-on effect on demand for cleaning services, noting that facility budgets are often among the first to be reduced during downturns.
Technology reshapes operations
Innovation is helping some contractors offset these pressures. Respondents identified cleaning validation systems and management software as the most valuable tools in their operations. These technologies streamline scheduling, inspections and reporting, while providing clients with data-backed transparency.
Robotics, Internet of Things (IoT) solutions and artificial intelligence (AI) are also gaining traction, helping lift cleaning standards, optimise resources and automate administrative tasks such as bid preparation and training development. “While robotics and automation add value, software has the greatest overall impact because it strengthens efficiency and customer satisfaction,” one respondent said.
Safety remains a cornerstone
Despite advances in technology, safety and wellbeing remain central to business success. Most survey participants listed slips, trips and falls as their top safety concern, followed by lifting injuries and repetitive strain. To mitigate risks, contractors reported increased toolbox talks, pre-work briefings and regular equipment checks, along with appointing dedicated safety managers to conduct onsite reviews.
Some firms are also adapting to an ageing workforce through ergonomic workstations, flexible schedules and wellness programs that support both physical and mental health.
Looking ahead
The 2025 BSC Benchmarking Survey also explored revenue forecasts, sustainability reporting and adoption of robotics over the past five years. The findings suggest a sector under pressure yet actively investing in systems, people and processes to stay competitive and resilient.
For Australian contractors, the global trends are a timely reminder that innovation and prevention will define the next phase of industry leadership.
A longer version of this article first appeared in CMM.
