Labor challenges remain at the forefront of the most critical issues facing the in-house cleaning/facility management industry today, according to participants in CMM’s 2025 In-house/Facility Management Benchmarking Survey. Most survey respondents who offered their opinion of the industry’s No. 1 problem mentioned hardships in finding, hiring, and retaining qualified staff.
They spoke of challenges with convincing upper management of the need for more staff, and having the resources to train employees properly and provide them with adequate salaries and benefits
to discourage turnover.
Budget restraints came in second as a common concern, with survey participants lamenting the lack of funds for additional labor, technology, equipment, and supplies. Respondents worried
about cost increases due to tariffs and pondered whether outsourcing was the answer. “[We are] trying to outsource with the hopes of saving money, but in reality [we are] losing a lot of
institutional knowledge in the process and losing the care that in-house employees have for the buildings and customers they service,” wrote one survey participant.
Committed to sustainability, exploring technology
Realizing that earth-friendly practices can strengthen an organization’s reputation and bottom line, the industry remains dedicated to lowering its environmental footprint, as evidenced by 70% of survey takers who listed sustainability as a top priority.
Survey participants shared their sustainability practices, with the most common including composting and recycling, reducing water consumption, using green-certified products, installing solar panels, and converting to LED lighting.
New technologies can assist with labor shortages by freeing up in-house facility staff from monotonous tasks. Organizations are slowly implementing artificial intelligence (AI) technology in their building management practices, with 12% reporting they have partially implemented AI technology for various building functions and 4% reporting they have fully implemented AI technology across all building functions. However, the most popular technology is robotics/autonomous equipment, with 43% of survey respondents planning to purchase this equipment in the next 12 months.
Although 62% find the cost of technology implementation a barrier or concern, 38% are exploring cost-efficient solutions.
Go online for the complete picture
Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their data and opinions in the annual survey. CMM relies on your invaluable information to create this benchmarking tool. We invite
participants and nonparticipants alike to examine a sample of the survey results below. Then download a free copy of the complete survey below.
ABOUT THIS REPORT: Survey data is based on results from email solicitations to in-house service providers from Feb. 5 to Feb. 28, 2025. Results are self-reported and not based on audited financial statements. Percentages in graphs and charts are rounded to the nearest whole number.
Survey Prize Winners
Congratulations to the three survey participants who received $100 Visa gift cards. The winners are:
- Nicole Ibarguen, Mt. Blue Regional School District
- Ana Nicolicea, Calgary Telus Convention Centre
- Bruce Osborne, Carle Foundation Hospital
