Soft growth for surveying and mapping services in 2024
Growth in the surveying and mapping services industries slowed for the third consecutive year in 2024, following two years of high interest rates and slower investment in new construction. Operating revenue for the surveying and mapping services industries grew 2.3% to $3.0 billion in 2024. Operating expenses also grew 2.3% to $2.7 billion, leaving the operating profit margin nearly unchanged from the previous year, at 12.0%.
As salaries, wages, commissions and benefits rose by 3.4% to reach $1.4 billion in 2024—outpacing the growth in total operating expenses—their share of operating expenses also increased, reaching 51.5%. The next largest operating expense items were all other cost and expenses (9.6%), the cost of goods sold (7.1%) and subcontracts (5.7%).
There are four service categories. The first group comprises establishments primarily engaged in collecting, interpreting and mapping geophysical data, including locating and measuring the extent of subsoil resources, such as oil and gas; this group accounted for 21.8% of sales in 2024. The second group consists of establishments primarily engaged in providing surveying and mapping services of the earth's surface and the sea floor (60.7% of sales). The remaining sales were split between non-geophysical surveying and mapping services (8.8%) and other goods and services (8.6%).
As for the provincial share of operating revenue, Alberta saw its share grow to 31.3% in 2024, while Ontario (23.8% in 2024) and Quebec (17.9% in 2024) have seen their shares of total operating revenue decrease since 2021.
Sales to businesses (62.1%) continued to account for the largest share of sales for these industries in 2024. The remaining sales were to individuals and households (16.0%); governments, non-profit organizations and public institutions (11.3%); and clients outside Canada (10.5%).
Looking ahead to 2025
With interest rates declining since mid-2024, there are signs that investments in new construction projects may be growing. Year-over-year data for the second quarter of 2025 show a 7.0% increase in residential investment and a 6.7% rise in non-residential investment. Detailed financial estimates for the 2025 reference year, which will be published in 2026, will provide a clearer picture of the impact of these factors on the surveying and mapping services industries.
Note to readers
Data for 2022 and 2023 have been revised.
Information about monthly interest rates can be found in table 10-10-0122-01.
Information on new gross investment can be found in table 36-10-0108-01.
Information on housing starts can be found in table 34-10-0126-01.
Information on new building investment can be found in table 34-10-0293-01.
These and other data related to business and consumer services can be found at the Business and consumer services and culture statistics portal.
Contact information
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