CHICAGO, Nov. 12, 2025 – The global facilities management (FM) industry continues its rapid growth, with total spending projected to surpass $3 trillion by 2026. To put this massive figure in perspective, it equals the entire annual GDP of France, currently the world's seventh-largest economy. However, this massive sector faces mounting pressure. According to JLL’s Global State of Facilities Management Report 2025, 84% of FM leaders cite budget constraints and escalating operational costs as their primary concern, driving a critical need to balance cost efficiency with occupant experience and operational excellence.

“Facilities management should no longer be viewed as a mere cost center, but a strategic business enabler that fortifies resilience, fuels productivity and ultimately creates a competitive advantage,” said Paul Morgan, Global COO of Real Estate Management Services at JLL. “In an environment marked by volatility, uncertainty and ambiguity, the need for more intelligent, AI powered by data-driven facilities management has never been more essential.”

Economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions have intensified focus on FM cost optimization, and leaders are addressing these cost pressure through sophisticated outsourcing and supply chain strategies rather than simple cost-cutting measures. Fifty-eight percent of organizations are consolidating contracts and suppliers to leverage volume buying power, while 52% prioritize providers with greater self-delivery capabilities and 37% actively partner with service providers to identify joint cost-saving opportunities.

Despite cost pressures, 32% of organizations plan to increase their FM software investment in the coming year. As FM technology investments remain focused on immediate operational returns, work order management leads FM software investment priorities at 57%, followed by asset lifecycle insights and decision-making for capital asset replacement.

“Organizations are prioritizing investments that deliver fast operational returns through automated reporting, predictive maintenance capabilities and intelligent work order systems demonstrating the ability to harness the power of AI,” said Tim Bernardez, Global Head of Workplace Management Technologies, at JLL. “However, integration challenges persist, with 54% citing compatibility issues with legacy infrastructure and cost constraints as top barriers, while 41% struggle with data quality and security issues.”

The FM industry has increased AI adoption, with 28% of organizations actively embedding AI solutions in their FM operations, representing a shift from experimental pilots to scaled deployment. FM-specific AI applications are delivering measurable operational benefits, with asset lifecycle solutions and automated record keeping being some of the top function areas.

While the FM industry is projected to expand by more than $800 billion globally by 2030, the industry faces significant labor shortages to meet surging demand. For example, 39% of facilities managers in the U.S. are above the age of 55, significantly higher than the 28% in this age range across all occupations. The aging workforce and insufficient talent pipeline has escalated labor market competition and hiring costs, while exacerbating talent scarcity in rural, remote and high-cost-of-living areas. 

As mentioned above, skilled trade labor shortage ranks as a significant concern, prompting comprehensive workforce transformation strategies. Organizations are responding through succession planning and knowledge transfer, cross-training initiatives and technology augmentation to enhance human capabilities.

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