by Shane Henson — June 27, 2014—Facilities management has an aging workforce, with an average employee age of 49, six years above the U.S. general working population average. However, that could change if more young professionals realized how closely FM matches Millenial values, says JLL (formerly Jones Lang LaSalle), global professional services and investment management firm offering specialized real estate services. JLL notes that FM provides opportunities to support environmental sustainability and work with purpose and meaning, and that the field has lots of open jobs.
In JLL’s recent report, The Future of Facility Management: Attracting Millennial Talent, JLL stresses that only one percent of Millennials are studying facilities management, yet they report values, skills, and aspirations consistent with a career in this industry. The research reveals a critical disconnect: an industry offering meaningful careers, young people seeking jobs that make a difference in the world—and a lack of awareness of one another, says JLL.
The report further provides insights into this unbalanced talent supply and demand equation, and how global corporations can solve it. Included in the findings are some counter-intuitive insights:
- Millennials do not consider facilities management as a career path—but they should. Millennials value jobs that offer constant learning opportunities, a clear career path, and an enjoyable, rewarding workplace. While FM careers typically offer these attributes, few Millennials are aware of the industry.
- Many Millennials already work in fields related to facilities management, but do not realize it. A substantial number of respondents already hold jobs that relate to FM skill sets, including science, technology, engineering, and math, as well as project management and architecture.
- Millennials do not distrust large corporations as much as we thought. More than half (52 percent) of the Millennials surveyed work for a multinational or national corporation, despite the widespread perception that Millennials prefer smaller enterprises.
- Many vocational school programs are excellent preparation for a career in facilities management. The study points to FM as a good career for associate degree candidates studying heating, air conditioning, and ventilation (HVAC), as well as other programs that develop skills for operating highly technical operating systems and machinery.
- Millennials are open to learning about facilities management. More than 71 percent of Millennials are open to learning about new careers—a positive sign for both corporations needing talent and Millennials looking for rewarding careers.
