Key Findings
- 3,295 contractors analyzed across 46+ cities
- Average AI Trust Score: 38.3/100 (median: 36.5)
- Only 8.4% of contractors score above 70 (excellent visibility)
- 5% have structured data (JSON-LD), meaning 95% are invisible to AI assistants
- 81% have a website listed
Score Distribution
The majority of contractors in British Columbia fall in the lower score ranges. This reflects a market where most businesses haven't optimized their online presence for AI discovery.
Score Distribution: British Columbia
Web Presence & AI Readability
81%
Have a Website
5%
Have JSON-LD
Top Performing Cities
These cities have the highest average AI Trust Scores in British Columbia, indicating contractors in these markets are more likely to be found by AI assistants.
Top Cities by Avg Score: British Columbia
| City | Businesses | Avg Score |
|---|---|---|
| North Vancouver | 13 | 56.3 |
| Victoria | 146 | 45.3 |
| Squamish | 113 | 44.3 |
| Langley | 136 | 44.2 |
| Langford | 48 | 43 |
| Vernon | 186 | 42 |
| West Kelowna | 171 | 41.9 |
| Mission | 101 | 41.8 |
| Courtenay | 152 | 40.7 |
| Port Moody | 95 | 40.1 |
Hiring in British Columbia?
By Industry Vertical
Different contractor types show distinct patterns in AI visibility. HVAC-R lead with an average score of 59.7. Painters lag at 33.8.
| Vertical | Count | Avg Score | % Excellent |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plumbers | 307 | 41.7 | 11.4% |
| Electricians | 416 | 40 | 7.2% |
| HVAC | 267 | 47.8 | 19.1% |
| Roofers | 126 | 41.3 | 9.5% |
| Painters | 11 | 33.8 | 0% |
| Landscapers | 271 | 38.4 | 7% |
| General Contractors | 382 | 38.5 | 7.9% |
| Foundation | 25 | 38 | 8% |
| HVAC-R | 3 | 59.7 | 33.3% |
Performance Gap
The gap between top performers and the rest tells a clear story: the top 10% of contractors in British Columbia score 80.1 on average, with 172 reviews. The bottom 50% average just 21.8 with 22 reviews. That's a 7.8x difference in reviews alone.
Methodology
This report analyzes 3,295 contractor business listings in British Columbia. Each business is scored on three dimensions: Identity (business presence verification), Legitimacy (ratings, reviews, and credentials), and Readability (structured data for AI systems). Scores are capped at 100. Data is sourced from Google Maps and business websites, refreshed regularly.