Why technical training is becoming non-negotiable in facilities management

Good skilled trades workers are already hard to come by – and today’s buildings require their expertise more than ever.

Experienced engineers are retiring while decades of low vocational school enrolment have created a widening talent gap, making it difficult to recruit electricians, HVAC technicians, plumbers, building systems engineers, and other essential facilities management (FM) roles. JLL’s 2026 State of FM report shows 68% of organizations currently report disruption from skilled trades labor shortages, with little improvement expected in the coming years.

This shortage comes at a critical time. Building engineers are integral to safe, smooth building performance – and their role is evolving rapidly under pressure from all directions.

Operating environments are becoming more volatile, cost pressures are intensifying, and insurance requirements are tightening. At the same time, sustainability goals and evolving building regulations are making energy efficiency and retro-commissioning a priority.

Technology is automating routine tasks while making other aspects of the job more complex. Building systems, FM tools, and orchestration platforms are growing more sophisticated, requiring stronger digital skills.

Yet gaps in AI and technical skills add another barrier. Today, 45% of occupiers are already scaling or optimizing AI within their FM operations. By 2030, that share is expected to reach 86%, JLL research finds.

Training a new generation of FM engineers

Clients increasingly expect that the engineers maintaining their assets have the skills to match the growing complexity. For FM teams, managing high-performing buildings requires best-in-class training.

JLL’s Technical Development Program (TDP) significantly reduces error-related service interruptions while improving engineer performance and client satisfaction. It covers 56 specialties across  HVAC, electrical, mechanical, and life safety systems through a curriculum built by JLL's own industry expert engineers. But the real innovation is in the integration: TDP connects with Workday and other learning management systems, giving managers and clients confidence that FM teams are properly qualified for the tasks facing them.

For clients, programs like TDP deliver transparency that wasn't possible before. They can see exactly what capabilities their service provider brings, track the upskilling of the team as they build knowledge and confidence in cutting edge technology and new areas of expertise, and tie training directly to operational outcomes like reduced downtime and lower costs.

"Technical training, especially when delivered at the site level, is proven to lower human error related interruptions to service," says Bryon Price, Global Head of JLL's Technical Development Program, who set the program up five years ago. "It also clearly builds confidence during operations."

Documented, standardized training isn't just a nice-to-have—it's becoming a competitive differentiator.

Calvin Battle, a Regional Engineering Director on a financial services account, has tracked the difference in engineers who complete the program.

"Engineers who've gone through the program demonstrate stronger technical diagnostic capabilities, handle complex equipment troubleshooting with greater confidence, and contribute more effectively to strategic facility optimization initiatives," he says. This supports safer, more reliable, compliant and sustainable buildings.

For engineers, the shift represents opportunity. In an industry where career progression has been informal and inconsistent, structured training programs create clear pathways and professional recognition. Ian Munns, JLL's Regional Engineering Director, says he uses the program to identify high-potential engineers: "The TDP-accredited courses, modules, and annual assessments ensure skill levels are achieved, maintained, and exceeded."

Professional development and recognition equally keep skilled workers from walking away.

The U.S. Department of Education estimates that in skilled trades, only two workers enter the workforce for every five who retire. By 2030, an estimated 2.1 million skilled trades jobs could go unfilled, with potential economic losses reaching $1 trillion annually.

Future-ready FM teams

As skilled trades shortages intensify, structured training programs like TDP are key to better managing buildings and developing stronger teams that stay.

What started as one account's initiative at JLL has become a blueprint for FM success across industries. At its core, it's about getting the fundamentals right—reducing costly errors, improving day-to-day reliability, and preparing skilled trades workers for a rapidly evolving industry, where they’re confident and capable working alongside AI-driven insights, automated workflows, and increasingly sophisticated building systems.

Programs that develop both traditional hands-on expertise and emerging digital capabilities can help ease today's pressing labor shortage while building the competitive advantage needed for tomorrow. It's how forward-thinking FM teams future-proof their operations while delivering the results clients demand.