Why Choose Facilities Management as a Career?

By Katherine Schwartz
Demand Generation Specialist
SpaceIQ

Choosing a career path is one of the most important things a person does. Unfortunately, we’re often expected to have that answer when we graduate high school. Most adults aren’t quite sure, so they immerse themselves in different experiences in an attempt to find a profession that speaks to them. More are finding facilities management as they explore the wider world of corporate careers.

Why choose facilities management as a career path? Not only is it a career field that’s growing and in-demand, it’s one many people find challenging (in a good way). There’s nothing like going to work and appreciating what you do every day. For many facilities managers, their career is the perfect combination of challenge, routine, earning potential, and excitement.

Here’s a look at why more people are pursuing a career in facilities management and what’s driving them to succeed in their field.

An up-and-coming profession

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), facility management services are part of broader administrative services. This career group as a whole is expected to see 6% growth over the next decade, which is higher than the average for other similar professions. Moreover, with more demand comes competitive pay! Median pay over the next decade is anticipated to be $96,940 per year on average, which means facility managers at larger organizations can expect to make well-into six figures annually.

For individuals who want a sustainable, well-paying career, facilities management is a desirable one. With 21,200 more jobs expected in the coming decade, individuals excited by the prospect of managing facilities will find themselves with plenty of opportunities to settle in and grow.

The CRE landscape is changing

Commercial real estate (CRE) is a cyclical market—one that’s looking more volatile over the next decade. Especially in the wake of COVID-19, commercial real estate management is a priority for growing companies. They’re trying to do more with less, which demands dedicated oversight from a facilities manager. From new desking concepts to concepts like integrated facilities management, the way companies use and manage facilities is changing.

For most organizations, the changing CRE market offers opportunities. They need a facilities manager to help recognize and qualify those opportunities. Are we paying too much for our current lease? Do we need all the space we currently have? If we adopt X desking policy, how much money will it save us with regard to Y and Z variables? As they answer these questions, today’s facility managers are quite literally shaping the CRE landscape of tomorrow.

Data is driving demand for FMs

Like most corporate professions these days, facilities management is butting up against data, which is appealing to analytical minds. While facilities management has always been about problem-solving and meeting demands, facilities management software is expanding that in brand-new ways. For those who love puzzles and salivate at the sight of data, this is a profession worth exploring.

Today’s facilities managers need not only to be decisive and forward-looking, but to back up their decisions with data. Why should the company reduce traditional workspace X% and reallocate that space to hot desks? What kind of ROI could the company see next year if it makes a capital expenditure of $X this year? If you’re someone who can look at data to glean insights and use those insights to affirm a decision, facilities management is a profession in desperate need of your talents.

The workplace is expanding

As the CRE sector ebbs and data shapes the workplace of the future, the functions of facilities management are changing. One of the best reasons to get involved in facility management today is to have a hand in shaping the future of how we work. Distributed teams, digital workspaces, flex work, agile workplaces, and more are all concepts on the rise. There’s demand for leaders willing to study and optimize these trends so the future of work benefits employees and companies alike.

The most exciting and appealing prospect of a career as a facilities manager right now is the paradigm shift of a post-COVID-19 world. As the workplace transcends physical walls, facilities managers have an opportunity to govern a workplace unlike any other that’s ever existed before.

Remote work and distributed teams offer new challenges. Shrinking commercial demands drive companies to do more with less. New work styles and new technologies have forced new workplace oversight standards. It’s an exciting time to get involved with facilities.

Keep reading: What is a Facilities Manager in Today’s Modern Office?