Beyond cost management, operational reliability and resilience ties with occupant wellbeing and workplace safety as the second-highest FM priority for organizations. Business continuity planning for mission-critical environments like data centers, hospitals and labs leads risk management priorities, followed by aging infrastructure replacement and modernization and workforce contingency planning to address skilled labor shortages.

“Forward-thinking facilities management builds organizational resilience through proactive risk management strategies that anticipate and prepare for a wide range of interconnected vulnerabilities,” said Wei Xie, Global Head of Research and Strategy, Workplace Management at JLL. “From workforce contingency planning to energy sourcing to data governance and protection in the age of AI, effective risk management requires balancing immediate operational needs with long-term strategic objectives that align with the organization’s growth roadmap.”

Survey respondents’ prioritization of occupant wellbeing and workplace safety demonstrates FM’s impact beyond bricks and mortar and its evolution toward human-centric operations. This focus directly impacts core business value, with JLL’s 2025 Workforce Preference Barometer showing an 84% correlation between positive workplace experiences and favorable attitudes toward office attendance.

“The next generation of facilities managers must incorporate a hospitality mindset that enhances user experience to deliver safety, comfort, convenience and wellness benefits – ultimately elevating brand value,” said Christian Whitaker, Global Head of Technical Services and Sustainability at JLL. “With the built environment responsible for 42% of global carbon emissions, sustainability initiatives can improve energy efficiencies, reduce emissions, lower costs and improve resiliency while also supporting occupant wellbeing.”

Still, safety confidence reveals concerning gaps; while 70% of organizations express confidence in their FM safety protocols, 30% report low to moderate confidence, highlighting critical vulnerabilities. The top safety challenges include developing a safety-first culture, training and tech enablement; regulatory compliance and safety standards; and physical workplace hazards and incidents.

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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