ESA launches Industry Performance Index to track security market trends

DALLAS—The electronic security services industry has outperformed broader U.S. growth in employment and wages over the past two decades, according to the inaugural Industry Performance Index report.  

The report is the first publication from the Electronic Security Association's (ESA) Industry Research Center, which launched earlier this year in partnership with economic forecasting firm Beacon Economics. The initiative was created to deliver industry-specific research and economic intelligence for the electronic security and life safety sector. 

According to the report, industry employment increased from approximately 86,000 workers in 2001 to about 141,000 in 2025, representing a compound annual growth rate of roughly 2%, compared with 0.86% growth for overall private-sector employment. 

The report found that the industry consistently added between 3,000 and 5,000 jobs annually through 2022, with employment remaining stable in recent years despite economic uncertainty tied to tariffs, artificial intelligence developments and geopolitical concerns. 

Compensation trends were also highlighted as a key indicator of industry strength. Annualized wages within the electronic security services sector have climbed to roughly $93,000, while real wages have grown at a compound annual rate of 1.85% during the past 25 years, compared with 0.99% growth across the broader private sector. 

"Reliable industry data is essential to making informed business decisions, and this report provides a valuable new perspective on the performance and trajectory of the electronic security services industry," said Jeremy Bates, ESA chairman. "The growth in employment and wages highlighted in this report demonstrates the important economic contribution of our industry and the opportunities it continues to create." 

ESA CEO Merlin Guilbeau said the Industry Research Center gives the industry a dedicated resource focused on tracking the economic forces and business trends shaping security integration companies. 

"This inaugural report establishes an important foundation for the ESA Industry Research Center and gives our members meaningful data they can use to better understand where our industry has been, where it is today, and where it is headed," Guilbeau said. 

The inaugural Industry Performance Index is available at no cost to both ESA members and non-members. The report can be downloaded through ESA's Industry Research Center at https://esaweb.org/esa-industry-performance-index/. Future reports from the Industry Research Center will be available exclusively to ESA members.  

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Photo courtesy of Electronic Security Association