Challenge Accepted

Inflation seems to be all around us. Just about everything costs more these days. And while it may be challenging for the average person to afford everyday items, running and maintaining a small business can be just as tricky — if not more.

Within the pest control industry, labor continues to be one of the highest expenses for PMPs. And labor issues can be a multipronged problem that’s even more troublesome when other costs, like gas and rent, continue to rise.

Though there’s an emphasis on the importance of finding and retaining the right people, it continues to be a tough sell as potential employees have a preconceived notion of what it means to work in pest control.

“It’s hard for people to understand that a career in pest control can be such a positive career. It can give you a ton of growth opportunities and pay you well,” said Aly Silva-Mulgrew, president of Plunkett’s Pest Control in Minneapolis, Minn. “I wish it was easier to communicate the unique perks of the job, like the flexibility of your schedule and how you get to engage with different people.”

Highlighting that a job in pest control can be a rewarding, long-term career option can become even tougher when you’re competing with factors like other industries that may pay more per hour or figuring out how to appeal to different generations of workers.

“The problem we’ve been facing lately is finding people who actually want to stick around and learn the industry,” said Noah Ingalls, branch manager at Real Pest Solutions in Olathe, Kan. “There’s a pretty big gap in the new folks entering the industry. You have some who are really enthusiastic about starting their careers as a pest management professional, and then sometimes it feels like people want to treat this like a part-time job in college. That’s a difficult hurdle to overcome as time goes on.”

And it puts even more stress on PMPs to find additional ways to keep productivity in the forefront. A May 2025 survey of pest control company owners, executives, managers and technical directors conducted by Readex Research on behalf of PCT showed that over the last 12 months, 54% reported an increase in productivity at their locations. They cited an emphasis on training, increasing route density and clearly communicating productivity goals.

“People are working to live and not living to work,” said Billy Olesen, president of Pest Stop Services, in Olympia, Wash. “That’s why it’s important for employers to be approachable and to be flexible with employees on all aspects of their job from time off to their schedule. It’s going to be more beneficial for companies in the long run.”