We have all heard the phrase, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” It is attributed to a French thinker dating back to the 1840s, and I think about the saying a lot during conversations with facility executives.
While planning coverage for next year’s magazines, I asked our advisory boards about trending topics they are thinking about looking toward 2027.
Many of the topics they mentioned are not surprising — artificial intelligence, increased data analysis, rising reliance on renewable energies, the impact of tariffs and finding more ways to improve indoor air quality.
But as those topics evolve by the year, one topic never seems to fade — finding the next generation of workers. It’s a topic that most discussions with facility managers ultimately shift toward at some point.
“One challenge is that we are no longer looking for someone who can just turn a wrench, but someone who can turn a wrench and knows enough about IT that they can program the component once it is replaced,” one responder says.
For building owners, it feels like one piece of the puzzle that never seems to fit. Despite managers’ efforts to close the employment gap by reaching out to veterans or creating their own internal training and development programs, institutional and commercial facilities are losing these employees to private industries who can offer tradespeople better salaries, and, in turn, a better quality of life.
What one department wants to do and what they can do to alleviate the concerns often results in frustrated facility leaders.
Are you seeking staffing solutions? Building Operating Management and our accompanying website FacilitiesNet regularly publish content with this topic in mind. Our live events also dedicate hours of education time to this important topic.
Dave Lubach is the chief editor of the facilities market. After serving as associate editor for Facility Maintenance Decisions from 2012 to 2016, he returned to Trade Press Media Group in 2021 and was elevated to his current position in October 2025. Dave manages the facilities team and helps shape the education content for NFMT and Elevate events.
