JLL warns of AI skills gap in Asia Pacific facilities

JLL has published research showing that artificial intelligence adoption in facilities management is rising quickly across global organisations, with Asia Pacific businesses facing distinct risks as they expand its use in building operations.

Based on responses from 1,321 organisations across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, the report found that 45% are already scaling or optimising AI in facilities management. That figure is expected to reach 86% by 2030.

The findings point to a broader shift in how companies view the management of offices, factories, data centres and other commercial property. Half of respondents said facilities management is already a significant source of competitive advantage, and that share is projected to rise to 82% by 2030.

At the same time, the study highlighted pressure on staffing and execution. Nearly 70% of respondents said they had faced operational disruption in the past year because of shortages in skilled trades labour and gaps in AI or technical skills. Fewer than 45% said they were prepared to manage those risks over the next three to five years.

The gap suggests many companies are moving faster on technology than on workforce planning. Facilities teams are also under pressure to support broader business priorities, including productivity, resilience, energy performance and workplace experience, as digital systems become more embedded in building operations.

Sean Greig, Chief Operating Officer & Workplace Management Leader, Work Dynamics, APAC, JLL, said those pressures are becoming more visible in the region. "Asia Pacific's facilities management market is maturing, and skilled labor shortages, rising technology demands and heightened operational risk are accelerating a rethink of the role FM plays in the business," said Greig.

"The organizations leading this rethink are applying AI and data-driven operations to shift FM from a cost center to a strategic investment, aligning mandate, platform and workforce at the same time, which we see as the path to long-term value," he said.

Regional risks

The research found that risk patterns differ sharply by market. In China, respondents reported pressure from energy costs and supply chain weaknesses, while workforce-related risks remained the main concern in Australia and Singapore.

Outside Asia Pacific, supply chain disruption ranked among the leading issues in the United States and Canada, while organisations in Mexico reported greater exposure to swings in energy costs. In Europe, respondents in Ireland cited extreme weather as a significant concern, while those in Germany pointed to regulatory compliance burdens.

Those differences matter for multinational occupiers managing property portfolios across several markets. Resilience strategies will need to reflect local operating conditions rather than rely on a single global model.

Investment shift

JLL's data also suggests that companies placing greater strategic value on facilities management are preparing to spend more on it. Among respondents that view the function as a competitive advantage, 64% expect facilities management budgets to increase over the next three to five years, 58% plan to expand their workforce, and 45% expect both budget and workforce growth.

Technology is likely to account for a greater share of that spending. Nearly 90% of respondents said they expect expenditure to shift from labour towards technology and automation, while 85% expect operations to be delivered through a mix of human technicians, AI and robotics.

Robotics adoption is also forecast to increase, with the share of organisations using it expected to rise from 37% today to 71% by 2030. The report described an operating model in which technicians work alongside automated workflows and robotic systems rather than being replaced by them.

Skills gap

The study found that the measures used to judge facilities management differ by sector. Technology companies place the greatest emphasis on AI-linked productivity gains, while data centre operators prioritise asset uptime and lifecycle optimisation.

Manufacturing and industrial groups focus on productivity, safety, compliance and cost efficiency. Government and education bodies place more weight on safety, risk and compliance management.

As organisations deepen their use of AI, many also appear more willing to rely on outside partners. Nearly half of advanced AI adopters said external facilities management and technology partnerships were essential, compared with 20% of organisations that have not yet deployed AI.

Wei Xie, Head of Strategy and Research, Workplace Management at JLL, said data remains a major obstacle as companies try to expand AI use. "Data readiness remains one of the biggest barriers to scaling AI successfully," said Xie.

"As organizations advance their AI adoption, provider selection increasingly shifts from cost and reliability toward data, technology and innovation capabilities. Organisations deploying AI at scale are more than twice as likely as those in the early stages to view external partnerships as essential to success," he said.