IFM Expert Perspective | How to Partner with Service Providers to Stem Skilled Labor Shortages

In this edition of "An Expert's P.O.V.", Flagship’s Mike Thompson, President/IFM discusses strategic ways that facility services providers can help facility managers (FMs) deal with the ongoing challenge of skilled labor shortages exacerbated by the COVID pandemic and its impact of the labor force, both short and long term. can take advantage of the reopening delay to improve the overall facility environment and the employee experience.

Setting the stage

Before the pandemic brought the economy to an abrupt halt in late Q1 early Q2 2020, businesses from general contractors to specialty contractors, from property and facility management providers to manufacturers, already were feeling a shortage of skilled labor.

The shortage was not a new issue in early 2020, having begun in the late 1990s, it picked up speed during the Great Recession, and then put the hammer down during the pandemic. How severe the shortage depends on demand: right now, as demand returns to pre-pandemic levels, the shortage is acute as many skilled workers have decided to exit the workforce via retirement or career change.

It is clear that when and/or if the federal government enacts a large infrastructure program, that the shortage will gain further momentum. In the near term that shortage could be good for workers continuing to put pressure on companies to increase compensation and benefits. But in the longer term, skilled labor shortages may result in a slowing of the economy: unmet demand resulting in work going unperformed.

2021 update is now available: Present employees with a healthy and safe work environment when they return to the office - check out Flagship’s free resource: Reopen Responsibly, A "New Normal" Guide for Safe and Healthy Workplaces.

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