The Future of Facility Maintenance
The facility maintenance industry is projected to grow by 6% with 86,000 new jobs by 2028 due to increasing demand from millennial homebuyers and aging baby boomer properties, making it a stable and essential career that ensures safety, comfort, and compliance in multi-family residential and commercial buildings.
With any career in the skilled trades industry, stability is of utmost importance. Factors such as job demand, employee turnover, and future growth are crucial for both aspiring technicians and seasoned professionals. The good news is that facility maintenance is here to stay and has a bright future ahead. Here’s why:
The Industry is Destined to Grow
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the facilities maintenance industry will add 86,000 new jobs by the year 2028 – an overall growth of 6%. Even as experts suggest the U.S. may be heading towards its next recession, working within an industry that is stable and expecting continued growth is a wise choice. There is also a growing demand for skilled multi-family maintenance workers, making it more critical than ever to find dedicated and committed professionals.
Why Such Growth?
- The millennial generation is beginning to enter household-forming age. Although debt and financial obligations have delayed homeownership, it’s projected that millennials will begin purchasing homes in the next 10 years, increasing demand for multi-family buildings.
- The baby boomer generation is nearing retirement, and many older homes will require refurbishing and the installation of modern electric and HVAC systems. The need to keep these properties in good condition creates a variety of opportunities for skilled trade workers.
It’s the Backbone of Comfortable Living and Working
Multi-family facility maintenance is essential not only because of its growth potential but also because it is relied upon to keep living and working conditions optimal. Every inhabited building requires regular building maintenance for people to live and work comfortably. Facilities maintenance is about more than just comfort:
- Maintenance technicians ensure all buildings meet safety standards set by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) and the National Fire Protection Administration (NFPA).
- They perform regular inspections and preventive maintenance to address potential problems before they occur.
Without facility maintenance, the buildings where people work and live would be uninhabitable.
It Saves Money
According to Pacific Partners Consulting Group, every $1 spent on maintenance saves $4 long-term, meaning multi-family building owners can save thousands of dollars over a building’s lifetime. Being proactive with maintenance is more cost-effective than being reactive. Urgent repairs or surprise replacements are more costly than ongoing maintenance. Maintenance technicians save people money simply by doing their jobs.
Highly-Skilled Professionals Keep the Industry Alive and Well
To perform successfully in this growing industry, it takes the right kind of people. There are typically two primary types of facility maintenance workers in the multi-family building space: Facility Managers and Maintenance Technicians. Both are highly-trained professionals with unique responsibilities.
Facility Managers
Facility Managers focus on the bigger picture of building maintenance, seeking ways to improve processes, staff, and service. Their responsibilities include:
- Coordinating and scheduling regular inspections
- Staying up-to-date with evolving technologies and best practices
- Writing and sending out work orders that technicians fulfill
- Ensuring maintenance technicians receive regular training and education opportunities
Maintenance Technicians
Maintenance Technicians execute the work orders to keep a building properly maintained by:
- Performing regular inspection of plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems
- Fulfilling work orders and tasks assigned by facility managers
- Repairing equipment and systems in case of emergency
- Continuing their education as the industry grows and evolves
Regardless of role, as the industry develops and technology changes, staying up-to-date with training and education is increasingly important. Successful facilities maintenance companies invest in their employees with continued education programs.
Secure Your Facility Maintenance Job With Interplay Learning
The facilities maintenance industry is here for the long haul. Interplay Learning offers multi-family maintenance training to help you have a successful career. Courses cover key topics including electricity, plumbing, and HVAC, helping you and your team tackle new developments in the industry.
Interplay Learning provides a variety of hands-on exercises, online courses, and interactive 3D and virtual reality simulations (VR), allowing you to learn in the way that works best for you. Educate yourself where, when, and how you want to become the best facilities maintenance technician possible.
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